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).
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Publication number: 20240090388Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2023Publication date: March 21, 2024Inventors: Michael Sean Day, Aaron E. Opatz, Lane A. Liudahl
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Patent number: 11864510Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 18, 2021Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: Trane International Inc.Inventors: Michael Sean Day, Aaron E. Opatz, Lane A. Liudahl
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Publication number: 20240003584Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2023Publication date: January 4, 2024Inventors: Joel A. Willhite, Qianghua Q. Zhou, Wei Luo, Chad Daniel Bowers, Min Kevin Liang, Justen Grubb, Lane A. Liudahl
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Publication number: 20230417435Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2022Publication date: December 28, 2023Inventors: Daren Lee Epperson, Leslie Lynn Zinger, Henry Traver Berry, Chad Daniel Bowers, Lane A. Liudahl, Jeffrey L. Stewart, Timothy Schmitt
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Publication number: 20210352853Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2021Publication date: November 18, 2021Inventors: Michael Sean Day, Aaron E. Opatz, Lane A. Liudahl
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Publication number: 20200292205Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2020Publication date: September 17, 2020Inventors: Abhijith BALAKRISHNA, Wilson Samuel Jesudason LAWRENCE, Lane A. LIUDAHL, Jason HARPST
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Patent number: 10670299Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 7, 2017Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Abhijith Balakrishna, Wilson Samuel Jesudason Lawrence, Lane A. Liudahl, Jason Harpst
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Patent number: 10514282Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 9, 2017Date of Patent: December 24, 2019Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: William G. Hansen, Lane A. Liudahl
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Publication number: 20180292105Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2017Publication date: October 11, 2018Inventors: Abhijith BALAKRISHNA, Wilson Samuel Jesudason LAWRENCE, Lane A. LIUDAHL, Jason HARPST
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Publication number: 20180094956Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2017Publication date: April 5, 2018Inventors: William G. HANSEN, Lane A. LIUDAHL
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Patent number: 9784602Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 23, 2015Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: William G. Hansen, Lane A. Liudahl
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Publication number: 20160116313Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2015Publication date: April 28, 2016Inventors: William G. HANSEN, Lane A. LIUDAHL
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Patent number: 9261388Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 11, 2013Date of Patent: February 16, 2016Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: William G. Hansen, Lane A. Liudahl
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Publication number: 20150177031Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2013Publication date: June 25, 2015Inventors: William G. Hansen, Lane A. Liudahl