Patents by Inventor Kevin W. Kiefer

Kevin W. Kiefer 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: 6296561
    Abstract: An air return bulkhead comprising a base; a return air duct extending outward from the base, the base and air duct defining a bulkhead return air chamber, the duct comprising a first wall, a second wall, a third wall, a fourth wall, and a fifth wall joining the other walls; at least one return air inlet notch formed in the air duct fourth and fifth walls; and means for producing turbulent return air flow through the return air chamber, said means located downstream from the at least one inlet notch. The bulkhead further includes air dam positioning means on the first and second walls. Individual air dam members are slid in the positioning means to be removably mounted along the bulkhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Thermo King Corporation
    Inventors: David B. Ziegler, Robert L. Sirotek, Jr., Pat Hotch, Gregg George, Kevin W. Kiefer, Randal Gast
  • Patent number: 5427237
    Abstract: A dual use kit of structural members, and method of using the kit to perform different functions during shipment and use of a transport refrigeration unit. Structural members of the kit initially form a shipping crate for a transport refrigeration unit, for protecting the transport refrigeration unit during shipment from a manufacturer to a user. The transport refrigeration unit is mounted on the outer surface of a predetermined trailer wall such that the return air plenum extends into a conditioned space defined by the trailer. Structural members of the shipping crate are convertible by the user to form an air return bulkhead adjacent to an inner surface of the predetermined wall of a trailer, to direct trailer air into the return air plenum of the transport refrigeration unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Thermo King Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin W. Kiefer, Randal W. Gast, Robert L. Sirotek, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4923237
    Abstract: A refrigerated truck having a chassis supported by wheels, and a truck body. The truck body is mounted for movement relative to the chassis, between a first position adjacent to the chassis and a second position above the first position. A refrigeration system is mounted on the chassis having discharge and return air ducts in air flow communication with air supply and return air ducts, respectively, associated with the truck body, in the first position of the truck body. Movement of the truck body to the second position automatically and completely separates the air ducts of the truck body from the air ducts of the refrigeration system, while deenergizing the refrigeration system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1990
    Assignee: Thermo King Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin W. Kiefer, Cynthia J. Satterness
  • Patent number: 4257240
    Abstract: A transport refrigeration unit for a transport container in which the refrigeration unit has side-by-side evaporator and condenser compartments 18 and 20 in the upper portion of the exterior frame, with a power compartment 24 extending across the entire width of the lower portion of the unit, the power compartment containing an internal combustion engine 26, a motor-alternator 28 and a refrigerant compressor 30 in in-line relationship, a radiator coil 62 condenser coil 64 being in inclined disposition in the condenser compartment and receiving air therethrough from condenser fan 66, the evaporator coil 72 being inclined in the evaporator compartment and in a disposition in which a portion of the coil projects out of the plane of the rear face of the frame, and a pair of double inlet centrifugal fans 74 are provided in the upper portion of the evaporator compartment to draw air from the upper part of the container and direct it downwardly through the coil 72 back into the container, and separate panels 36 and
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1981
    Assignee: Thermo King Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Christiansen, Kevin W. Kiefer, Lowell B. Naley, Ronald W. Seipp, Lawrence J. Shirek, Robert L. Harrington