Patents by Inventor Kristen L. Schaefer

Kristen L. Schaefer 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: 8417386
    Abstract: A system and a method are provided for monitoring a condition and selectively executing a certification defrost algorithm for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system in response to the status of the monitored condition. A system and a method are provided for selectively operating a certification defrost algorithm in parallel to a field defrost algorithm. A system and a method are also provided for causing a controller to execute a first algorithm and for causing the controller to selectively execute a second algorithm while also executing the first algorithm where each of the first algorithm and the second algorithm are configured to selectively cause the HVAC system to operate in a defrost mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Douglas, Darryl E. Denton, Alan D. Marble, Kevin B. Mercer, Gary L. Sapp, Kristen L. Schaefer, Steven A. Tice
  • Patent number: 8327658
    Abstract: A system and a method are provided for returning oil in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system by determining when an ambient zone temperature is equal to or less than a temperature limit and reversing a direction of refrigerant flow of the HVAC system based on the length of time. Also, a system and a method are provided for monitoring the length of operation in a first and a second heating mode and for reversing a direction of refrigerant flow based on the length of time operation occurs in the first and second heating modes. A system and a method having a first compressor, a first heating mode, a second heating mode, a defrost mode, and a controller is disclosed. The controller selectively controls initiation of the defrost mode in response to an HVAC system operating in a heating mode of operation for a predetermined amount of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Trane International, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Douglas, John R. Edens, Alan D. Marble, Kevin B. Mercer, Gary L. Sapp, James T. Schaefer, Jr., Kristen L. Schaefer, Steven A. Tice
  • Patent number: 8116911
    Abstract: A system and a method are provided for powering up a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and operating a sump heater for a compressor for a first predetermined period of time in response to the HVAC system being powered up. A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system and a method for controlling the system are provided. The HVAC system includes a compressor, a sump heater associated with the compressor, and a controller configured to control the compressor and the sump heater so that the sump heater is not operated while the compressor is operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Bailey, Jose L. Balderrama, Jonathan D Douglas, John R. Edens, Alan D. Marble, Gary L. Sapp, Kristen L. Schaefer, Brett R. Schneider, Steven A. Tice
  • Publication number: 20100125369
    Abstract: A system and a method are provided for monitoring a condition and selectively executing a certification defrost algorithm for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system in response to the status of the monitored condition. A system and a method are provided for selectively operating a certification defrost algorithm in parallel to a field defrost algorithm. A system and a method are also provided for causing a controller to execute a first algorithm and for causing the controller to selectively execute a second algorithm while also executing the first algorithm where each of the first algorithm and the second algorithm are configured to selectively cause the HVAC system to operate in a defrost mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Applicant: TRANE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan D. DOUGLAS, Darryl E. DENTON, Alan D. MARBLE, Kevin B. MERCER, Gary L. SAPP, Kristen L. SCHAEFER, Steven A. TICE