Patents by Inventor Lane A. Liudahl

Lane A. Liudahl 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: 20240090388
    Abstract: Multiple air handling units feeding into a common air distribution system are used to provide both latent and sensible temperature control. When dehumidification without sensible cooling is required, different air handling units feeding into a common distribution system may be operated in different modes so that both cooling and reheating are occurring simultaneously. The result is an energy efficient means of controlling both ambient air temperature and relative humidity. Air handling units such as water source heat pumps and variable refrigerant flow (VRF) units may be employed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Michael Sean Day, Aaron E. Opatz, Lane A. Liudahl
  • Patent number: 11864510
    Abstract: Multiple air handling units feeding into a common air distribution system are used to provide both latent and sensible temperature control. When dehumidification without sensible cooling is required, different air handling units feeding into a common distribution system may be operated in different modes so that both cooling and reheating are occurring simultaneously. The result is an energy efficient means of controlling both ambient air temperature and relative humidity. Air handling units such as water source heat pumps and variable refrigerant flow (VRF) units may be employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Sean Day, Aaron E. Opatz, Lane A. Liudahl
  • Publication number: 20240003584
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The method includes measuring a temperature and controlling a compressor of the HVAC system. The temperature is measured by a temperature sensor located between a metering device of the HVAC system and an evaporator coil of the HVAC system. The temperature is representative of a refrigerant temperature. The refrigerant temperature is a temperature of a refrigerant fluid flowing from the metering device to the evaporator coil. The compressor is controlled by control circuitry that is configured to perform the controlling in a dehumidify mode based, at least in part, on a value of a humidity parameter of air of an airflow through an evaporator coil and a reheat coil, where the value is determined using the temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Joel A. Willhite, Qianghua Q. Zhou, Wei Luo, Chad Daniel Bowers, Min Kevin Liang, Justen Grubb, Lane A. Liudahl
  • Publication number: 20230417435
    Abstract: Examples of the present disclosure relate to climate control systems and air handler units with improved leak detection, along with method for installing these systems. In some examples, the climate control system comprises a heat exchanger configured to exchange thermal energy between a conditioned airflow and a refrigerant fluid; a drain pan arranged to collect condensate produced at the heat exchanger, the drain pan including one or more drains configured to route condensate out of the drain pan; a refrigerant leak sensor coupled to the drain pan and positioned above the one or more drains and configured to detect a refrigerant leak; and control circuitry operably coupled to the refrigerant leak sensor, the control circuitry configured to: receive a signal from the refrigerant leak sensor indicative of refrigerant located outside the closed circuit associated with the heat exchanger, and determine a refrigerant leak has occurred based on the signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2022
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Daren Lee Epperson, Leslie Lynn Zinger, Henry Traver Berry, Chad Daniel Bowers, Lane A. Liudahl, Jeffrey L. Stewart, Timothy Schmitt
  • Publication number: 20210352853
    Abstract: Multiple air handling units feeding into a common air distribution system are used to provide both latent and sensible temperature control. When dehumidification without sensible cooling is required, different air handling units feeding into a common distribution system may be operated in different modes so that both cooling and reheating are occurring simultaneously. The result is an energy efficient means of controlling both ambient air temperature and relative humidity. Air handling units such as water source heat pumps and variable refrigerant flow (VRF) units may be employed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Sean Day, Aaron E. Opatz, Lane A. Liudahl
  • Publication number: 20200292205
    Abstract: An HVACR fan and heater assembly accounts for the cyclonic flow produced by centrifugal blowers by placing a heater vertically and biased towards a side of a fan cabinet in order to increase and balance airflow through the heater, eliminating hot spots and fire risk and improving heater efficiency. A blockoff in the fan cabinet forces airflow within the cabinet to move through the heater. The positioning of the heater may vary depending on the direction of rotation of the centrifugal blower. The fan and heater assembly may further include baffles to direct the airflow from the centrifugal blower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Abhijith BALAKRISHNA, Wilson Samuel Jesudason LAWRENCE, Lane A. LIUDAHL, Jason HARPST
  • Patent number: 10670299
    Abstract: An HVACR fan and heater assembly accounts for the cyclonic flow produced by centrifugal blowers by placing a heater vertically and biased towards a side of a fan cabinet in order to increase and balance airflow through the heater, eliminating hot spots and fire risk and improving heater efficiency. A blockoff in the fan cabinet forces airflow within the cabinet to move through the heater. The positioning of the heater may vary depending on the direction of rotation of the centrifugal blower. The fan and heater assembly may further include baffles to direct the airflow from the centrifugal blower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Abhijith Balakrishna, Wilson Samuel Jesudason Lawrence, Lane A. Liudahl, Jason Harpst
  • Patent number: 10514282
    Abstract: Methods and systems to measure a volumetric fluid flow rate through a fluid flow passage, such as an air handler of a HVAC system, are described. The system includes an air intake conduit. The air intake conduit includes a partition, an airflow measuring passage through the partition, and an airflow flow-through passage. The partition and the airflow flow-through passage are arranged in a side-by-side fashion. The airflow measuring passage is equipped with an airflow measuring device to measure the air pressure drop in the airflow measuring passage and has a minimal air pressure drop requirement. The air intake conduit has a minimal volumetric air intake requirement. When the air intake conduit has the minimal volumetric air intake, the air pressure drop measured at the airflow measuring passage is at the minimal air pressure drop requirement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: William G. Hansen, Lane A. Liudahl
  • Publication number: 20180292105
    Abstract: An HVACR fan and heater assembly accounts for the cyclonic flow produced by centrifugal blowers by placing a heater vertically and biased towards a side of a fan cabinet in order to increase and balance airflow through the heater, eliminating hot spots and fire risk and improving heater efficiency. A blockoff in the fan cabinet forces airflow within the cabinet to move through the heater. The positioning of the heater may vary depending on the direction of rotation of the centrifugal blower. The fan and heater assembly may further include baffles to direct the airflow from the centrifugal blower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: Abhijith BALAKRISHNA, Wilson Samuel Jesudason LAWRENCE, Lane A. LIUDAHL, Jason HARPST
  • Publication number: 20180094956
    Abstract: Methods and systems to measure a volumetric fluid flow rate through a fluid flow passage, such as an air handler of a HVAC system, are described. The method may include obtaining a flow rate measurement in a measuring section, and calculating a total flow rate based on a correlation between the obtained flow rate measurement and the total flow rate. The method may also include blocking a portion of the fluid flow passage so that when a minimal volumetric fluid flow rate is provided, the flow rate measurement obtained in the measuring section is at about a minimal sensitivity flow rate requirement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: William G. HANSEN, Lane A. LIUDAHL
  • Patent number: 9784602
    Abstract: Methods and systems to measure a volumetric fluid flow rate through a fluid flow passage, such as an air handler of a HVAC system, are described. The method may include obtaining a flow rate measurement in a measuring section, and calculating a total flow rate based on a correlation between the obtained flow rate measurement and the total flow rate. The method may also include blocking a portion of the fluid flow passage so that when a minimal volumetric fluid flow rate is provided, the flow rate measurement obtained in the measuring section is at about a minimal sensitivity flow rate requirement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: William G. Hansen, Lane A. Liudahl
  • Publication number: 20160116313
    Abstract: Methods and systems to measure a volumetric fluid flow rate through a fluid flow passage, such as an air handler of a HVAC system, are described. The method may include obtaining a flow rate measurement in a measuring section, and calculating a total flow rate based on a correlation between the obtained flow rate measurement and the total flow rate. The method may also include blocking a portion of the fluid flow passage so that when a minimal volumetric fluid flow rate is provided, the flow rate measurement obtained in the measuring section is at about a minimal sensitivity flow rate requirement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: William G. HANSEN, Lane A. LIUDAHL
  • Patent number: 9261388
    Abstract: Methods and systems to measure a volumetric fluid flow rate through a fluid flow passage, such as an air handler of a HVAC system, are described. The method may include obtaining a flow rate measurement in a measuring section, and calculating a total flow rate based on a correlation between the obtained flow rate measurement and the total flow rate. The method may also include blocking a portion of the fluid flow passage so that when a minimal volumetric fluid flow rate is provided, the flow rate measurement obtained in the measuring section is at about a minimal sensitivity flow rate requirement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: William G. Hansen, Lane A. Liudahl
  • Publication number: 20150177031
    Abstract: Methods and systems to measure a volumetric fluid flow rate through a fluid flow passage, such as an air handler of a HVAC system, are described. The method may include obtaining a flow rate measurement in a measuring section, and calculating a total flow rate based on a correlation between the obtained flow rate measurement and the total flow rate. The method may also include blocking a portion of the fluid flow passage so that when a minimal volumetric fluid flow rate is provided, the flow rate measurement obtained in the measuring section is at about a minimal sensitivity flow rate requirement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: William G. Hansen, Lane A. Liudahl