Patents by Inventor Kevin Mercer

Kevin Mercer 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: 11949331
    Abstract: The present document describes a power converter configured to convert electrical power at an input voltage at an input of the power converter to electrical power at an output voltage at an output of the power converter. The power converter comprises a first upper capacitor and a first lower capacitor, which are coupled with one another via a first mid node; a second upper capacitor and a second lower capacitor, which are coupled with one another via a second mid node; an inductor; and a set of power switches. In addition, the power converter comprises a control unit which is configured to control the set of power switches such that during an operation cycle the power converter is operated in a first main state and in a second main state in a mutually exclusive manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Mark Mercer, Kevin Dowdy, Holger Petersen
  • Publication number: 20240077217
    Abstract: A heat exchanger system including a cabinet, a V-shaped round tube plate fin heat exchanger disposed within the cabinet, and an axial fan housing disposed within the cabinet and located downstream of the V-shaped round tube plate fin heat exchanger. The heat exchanger system also includes a first insulation disposed along a first portion of an inner periphery of the cabinet, a second insulation disposed along a second portion of the inner periphery of the cabinet, and a connecting member disposed along an abutment of the first insulation and the second insulation. The first portion located upstream of the V-shaped round tube plate fin heat exchanger and the second portion located downstream of the V-shaped round tube plate fin heat exchanger. A temperature of the air flowing through the second portion is less than a temperature of the air flowing through the first portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Kevin Mercer, Sachin Jagannath Nehete, Ammar Khuzeima Sakarwala
  • Publication number: 20240027143
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a louvered fin including a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a surface extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge. The surface defines a first set of holes along a first axis, a second set of holes along a second axis and offset from the first set of holes, and a third set of holes along a third axis and offset from the second set of holes. Each of the first axis, the second axis, and the third axis extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the fin. A first offset distance between the second and first set of holes is greater than a second offset distance between the third and second set of holes. The second and the third set of holes define a substantially obtuse trapezoidal matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventor: Kevin Mercer
  • Publication number: 20240019182
    Abstract: An integrated refrigerant charge collector for a heat pump system is provided. The charge collector includes an elongated housing, and a divider plate disposed within the elongated housing to define an accumulator compartment and a receiver compartment. A horizontal plane of the divider plate is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the elongated housing. The accumulator compartment is in fluid communication with a reversing valve and a compressor of the heat pump system, and allows a desired flow of a refrigerant charge into the compressor during a heating mode and a cooling mode. The receiver compartment is in fluid communication with an indoor coil and an outdoor coil of the heat pump system, and extracts a liquid refrigerant from a circuit of the heat pump system during the heating mode, and adds the liquid refrigerant to the circuit during the cooling mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Inventor: Kevin Mercer
  • Publication number: 20230384036
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an air handler having a cabinet and a plurality of refrigerant tubes, where each refrigerant tube has a diameter of 7 mm. The air handler includes a V-shaped round tube plate fin heat exchanger disposed within the cabinet and including a plurality of louvered fins. Each louvered fin defines a plurality of holes configured to receive the refrigerant tubes. The plurality of holes defines a linear offset configuration of the louvered fin. The air handler further includes an axial fan housing disposed within the cabinet and located downstream of the V-shaped round tube plate fin heat exchanger, a distributor in fluid communication with the refrigerant tubes, and a plurality of feeder tubes extending between the distributor and the refrigerant tubes. Each feeder tube is configured to allow flow of refrigerant therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventor: Kevin Mercer
  • Publication number: 20230358419
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an air handler including a V-shaped round tube plate fin evaporator coil disposed within a cabinet, a first coil extension coupled to a first tube sheet at a first arm of the evaporator coil, a second coil extension coupled to a second tube sheet at a second arm of the evaporator coil, and a door disposed on a front portion of the cabinet to provide access to the evaporator coil. Each of the first coil extension and the second coil extension extends along a transverse direction of the evaporator coil. The first coil extension, the second coil extension, and the door are together configured to achieve an air-tight seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Kevin Mercer, Ammar Khuzeima Sakarwala
  • Publication number: 20230358418
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an air handler including a body and an axial fan housing disposed within the body. The axial fan housing defines an aperture in fluid communication with an axial fan disposed therein and at least one enclosure located at a corner thereof, such that the at least one enclosure is isolated from a continuous airflow passageway through the aperture of the axial fan housing. The enclosure is configured to house electronic controls therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventor: Kevin Mercer
  • Patent number: 11808530
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a louvered fin including a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a surface extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge. The surface defines a first set of holes along a first axis, a second set of holes along a second axis and offset from the first set of holes, and a third set of holes along a third axis and offset from the second set of holes. Each of the first axis, the second axis, and the third axis extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the fin. A first offset distance between the second and first set of holes is greater than a second offset distance between the third and second set of holes. The second and the third set of holes define a substantially obtuse trapezoidal matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Kevin Mercer
  • Publication number: 20230314080
    Abstract: Disclosed is a microchannel heat exchanger comprising a primary core including a first header and a second header and a secondary core including a first auxiliary header and a second auxiliary header, further comprising a first header interconnect extending between the first header and the first auxiliary header and having a first interconnect fluid passage extending therethrough; and a second header interconnect extending between the second auxiliary header and the second header and having a second interconnect fluid passage extending therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Robert A. Leffler, Arindom Joardar, Jon P. Kennedy, Kevin Mercer, Thomas Bryant
  • Patent number: 11713928
    Abstract: Disclosed is a microchannel heat exchanger comprising a primary core including a first header and a second header and a secondary core including a first auxiliary header and a second auxiliary header, further comprising a first header interconnect extending between the first header and the first auxiliary header and having a first interconnect fluid passage extending therethrough; and a second header interconnect extending between the second auxiliary header and the second header and having a second interconnect fluid passage extending therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert A. Leffler, Arindom Joardar, Jon P. Kennedy, Kevin Mercer, Thomas Bryant
  • Patent number: 11713931
    Abstract: A distributor for use in a heat exchanger including a distributor body having a first end, a second end, and a hollow interior. A fluid inlet is formed at the first end and a fluid outlet includes a plurality of orifices formed in the distributor body. The fluid outlet is configured to achieve a ratio of a pressure drop across the distributor to a pressure drop across the heat exchanger between about 3 and about 7 at nominal refrigerant flowrate conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kevin Mercer
  • Patent number: 11668532
    Abstract: A heat exchanger is provided and includes coils, a header disposed at an end of the coils to distribute fluid into the coils, an evaporator tube fluidly communicative with an end of the header and a tube sheet disposed against a side of one of the coils which is nearest to the end of the header to catch condensate dripping off the evaporator tube and to drain the condensate away from the coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Charlie Christensen Phillips, Joshua Jenkins, Kevin Mercer, James Amick
  • Publication number: 20230152003
    Abstract: The disclosed technology includes devices and systems for air handling units used in heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. The disclosed technology can include a unitary heat exchanger structure configured to be positioned in an airflow path of an HVAC system and comprising a refrigerant heat exchanger coil and a hydronic heat exchanger coil. The refrigerant heat exchanger can include a refrigerant flow path configured to (i) receive a refrigerant circulated through the refrigerant heat exchanger coil and (ii) facilitate heat exchange between the refrigerant and air directed across the refrigerant heat exchanger coil. The hydronic heat exchanger coil can include a water flow path configured to (a) receive water circulated through the hydronic heat exchanger coil and (b) facilitate heat exchange between the water and air directed across the hydronic heat exchanger coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2022
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Kevin Mercer, Harold Gene Havard, JR.
  • Publication number: 20230130189
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a louvered fin including a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a surface extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge. The surface defines a first set of holes along a first axis, a second set of holes along a second axis and offset from the first set of holes, and a third set of holes along a third axis and offset from the second set of holes. Each of the first axis, the second axis, and the third axis extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the fin. A first offset distance between the second and first set of holes is greater than a second offset distance between the third and second set of holes. The second and the third set of holes define a substantially obtuse trapezoidal matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventor: Kevin Mercer
  • Publication number: 20230122925
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a louvered fin including a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a surface extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge. The surface defines a first set of holes along a first axis, a second set of holes along a second axis and offset from the first set of holes, and a third set of holes along a third axis and offset from the second set of holes. Each of the first axis, the second axis, and the third axis extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the fin. A first offset distance between the second and first set of holes is greater than a second offset distance between the third and second set of holes. The second and the third set of holes define a substantially obtuse trapezoidal matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventor: Kevin Mercer
  • Patent number: 11592244
    Abstract: Disclosed is a multiport distributor comprising: an elongated member comprising a plurality of inlet ports disposed along a first end of the elongated member, a plurality of first outlet ports disposed along a face of the elongated member, and a plurality of fluid passages disposed within the elongated member and extending between the plurality of inlet ports and the plurality of first outlet ports, wherein the plurality of fluid passages are substantially parallel to one another and configured to convey a fluid in a first direction, wherein the plurality of first outlet ports are configured to direct a fluid passing therethrough in a second direction, wherein the second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Leffler, Thomas Bryant, Kevin Mercer, Arindom Joardar, Tobias H. Sienel
  • Patent number: 11493277
    Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly includes a plurality of flattened heat exchanger tubes. The plurality of heat exchanger tubes include a bend that separates the plurality of heat exchanger tubes between extending in a first plane and extending in a second plane transverse to the first plane. An inlet manifold is in fluid communication with the plurality of heat exchanger tubes and includes a distribution insert at least partially extending through an inlet opening in the inlet manifold. An outlet manifold is in fluid communication with the plurality of heat exchanger tubes and includes an outlet opening spaced inward from opposing ends of the outlet manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arindom Joardar, Robert A. Leffler, Thomas Bryant, Jon P. Kennedy, Kevin Mercer
  • Publication number: 20220235980
    Abstract: A condensate block for a vertically mounted v-coil heat exchanger (which may function as an evaporator), and an evaporator assembly for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system incorporating the condensate block are provided. The condensate block includes a body. The body is made of a malleable, flame-resistant material. The body defines at least one upward facing surface and opposing outward facing surfaces. The opposing outward facing surfaces are configured at an apex angle that is complimentary to (e.g., equal to, or greater than) a v-coil bend angle defined by the v-coil heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Kevin Mercer, Jorge A. Solis, Elnaz Norouzi, Sara Shayan Amin
  • Patent number: 11326807
    Abstract: Disclosed is a receptor for receiving condensate from a v-coil heat exchanger (v-coil), the receptor having: a first channel having a first length defined between first opposing ends, the first channel configured to receive the v-coil; a second channel having a second length defined between second opposing ends, the second channel including: a first orifice intermediate the second opposing ends for receiving condensate from the first channel, the first orifice being fluidly connected to one end of the first opposing ends at a junction; and a fluid drain port at one or both of the second opposing ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin Mercer, James Amick, Charles Christensen Phillips, Vishnu Shayan Nvss, Pratap Kumar Dvs, Asad M. Sardar
  • Publication number: 20220128320
    Abstract: A microchannel heat exchanger having: fin segments defined between lower and upper fin tips; at each fin tip, the fin segments have inner and outer facing surfaces; each fin segment having louvers having: an upper transition region at an upper louver end, adjacent an upper fin tip; a lower transition region at a lower louver end, adjacent a lower fin tip; and a straight region extending therebetween, wherein: the transition regions along the inner facing surface at each fin tip have a first transition surface having a first transition length, disposed at a first transition angle; the transition regions along the outer facing surface at each fin tip have a second transition surface having a second transition length, disposed at a second transition angle; wherein: the first transition length is longer than the second transition length; and/or the first transition angle is smaller than the second transition angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: Arindom Joardar, Kevin Mercer, Robert A. Leffler, Tobias H. Sienel