Patents by Inventor Neal Harrington
Neal Harrington 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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Patent number: 11906175Abstract: Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a control system for controlling an HVAC device where the control system includes a temperature sensor that provides a signal indicative of a temperature associated with the HVAC device, an orientation sensor that provides a signal indicative of an operating orientation of the HVAC device, and control circuitry that receives the temperature signal and the orientation signal from the orientation sensor. The control circuitry selects an operating thermal control set point from a plurality of stored thermal control set points based at least in part on an orientation signal, determines a temperature sensor input based on the temperature signal and compares the temperature sensor input to the operating thermal control set point, and operates the HVAC device based at least in part on that comparison.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2022Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: Trane International Inc.Inventors: Neal Harrington, Thomas Gort, James R. M. Neal
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Patent number: 11729018Abstract: The present disclosure provides a CAN network topology for an HVAC communication system. The CAN network topology comprises at least three primary nodes having a predetermined termination impedance and a plurality of end nodes coupled to each primary node, wherein the predetermined termination impedance is set to the optimal setting of 180 ohms. Advantageously, the present disclosure eliminates the need for physically setting CAN node terminations. This reduces install time and removes variability of the install settings. Further, removing this variability reduces the risk for post-installation call-backs due to incorrect system setup. The present disclosure optimizes signal slew rate, which improves signal reliability.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2021Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: Trane International Inc.Inventors: Ramon Portillo, Neal Harrington, Nathan Smith, Caleb A. Davis, Brad T. Wilson
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Publication number: 20230228451Abstract: Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method of commissioning an HVAC system and a related unit. Some embodiments of the method include providing a unit of the HVAC system with a plurality of condensate outlets such that the unit may be installed in a plurality of orientations; installing the unit in a preferred orientation; selecting one of the condensate outlets from the plurality of outlets that is positioned to receive condensate based on the preferred orientation; attaching a condensate line to the selected one of the condensate outlets; and installing a sensor along the condensate line, the sensor configured to detect a presence of a refrigerant that is heavier than air and would flow with gravity along with the condensate collected by the unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2022Publication date: July 20, 2023Inventors: Daren Lee Epperson, Kirk W. Beason, David Williams, JR., Neal Harrington
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Publication number: 20230213240Abstract: Methods and related systems for operating a furnace are disclosed. In an embodiment, the method includes activating a burner assembly and a first fan of the furnace to combust fuel and air and circulate combustion gases along a flow path extending through a heat exchanger of the furnace. In addition, the method includes operating a second fan of the furnace to circulate air across an external surface of the heat exchanger of the furnace and produce a conditioned airflow. Further, the method includes monitoring one or more parameters of a motor of the second fan indicative of an airflow rate of the conditioned airflow, and deactivating the burner assembly, whereby combustion of the fuel and air in the furnace ceases, in response to the one or more parameters indicating that the airflow rate is less than a minimum airflow rate.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2023Publication date: July 6, 2023Inventors: James R.M. Neal, Thomas Gort, Wayne N. Kraft, Sandeep Gowdagiri, Neal Harrington, David Williams, JR.
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Publication number: 20230129818Abstract: Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a control system for controlling an HVAC device where the control system includes a temperature sensor that provides a signal indicative of a temperature associated with the HVAC device, an orientation sensor that provides a signal indicative of an operating orientation of the HVAC device, and control circuitry that receives the temperature signal and the orientation signal from the orientation sensor. The control circuitry selects an operating thermal control set point from a plurality of stored thermal control set points based at least in part on an orientation signal, determines a temperature sensor input based on the temperature signal and compares the temperature sensor input to the operating thermal control set point, and operates the HVAC device based at least in part on that comparison.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2022Publication date: April 27, 2023Inventors: Neal Harrington, Thomas Gort, James R.M. Neal
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Patent number: 11624529Abstract: Methods and related systems for operating a furnace are disclosed. In an embodiment, the method includes activating a burner assembly and a first fan of the furnace to combust fuel and air and circulate combustion gases along a flow path extending through a heat exchanger of the furnace. In addition, the method includes operating a second fan of the furnace to circulate air across an external surface of the heat exchanger of the furnace and produce a conditioned airflow. Further, the method includes monitoring one or more parameters of a motor of the second fan indicative of an airflow rate of the conditioned airflow, and deactivating the burner assembly, whereby combustion of the fuel and air in the furnace ceases, in response to the one or more parameters indicating that the airflow rate is less than a minimum airflow rate.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2020Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: Trane International Inc.Inventors: James R. M. Neal, Thomas Gort, Wayne N. Kraft, Sandeep Gowdagiri, Neal Harrington, David Williams, Jr.
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Patent number: 11585543Abstract: Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a control system for controlling an HVAC device where the control system includes a temperature sensor that provides a signal indicative of a temperature associated with the HVAC device, an orientation sensor that provides a signal indicative of an operating orientation of the HVAC device, and control circuitry that receives the temperature signal and the orientation signal from the orientation sensor. The control circuitry selects an operating thermal control set point from a plurality of stored thermal control set points based at least in part on an orientation signal, determines a temperature sensor input based on the temperature signal and compares the temperature sensor input to the operating thermal control set point, and operates the HVAC device based at least in part on that comparison.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2020Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: Trane International Inc.Inventors: Neal Harrington, Thomas Gort, James R. M. Neal
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Publication number: 20220205648Abstract: Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a control system for controlling an HVAC device where the control system includes a temperature sensor that provides a signal indicative of a temperature associated with the HVAC device, an orientation sensor that provides a signal indicative of an operating orientation of the HVAC device, and control circuitry that receives the temperature signal and the orientation signal from the orientation sensor. The control circuitry selects an operating thermal control set point from a plurality of stored thermal control set points based at least in part on an orientation signal, determines a temperature sensor input based on the temperature signal and compares the temperature sensor input to the operating thermal control set point, and operates the HVAC device based at least in part on that comparison.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2020Publication date: June 30, 2022Inventors: Neal Harrington, Thomas Gort, James R. M. Neal
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Publication number: 20220011018Abstract: Methods and related systems for operating a furnace are disclosed. In an embodiment, the method includes activating a burner assembly and a first fan of the furnace to combust fuel and air and circulate combustion gases along a flow path extending through a heat exchanger of the furnace. In addition, the method includes operating a second fan of the furnace to circulate air across an external surface of the heat exchanger of the furnace and produce a conditioned airflow. Further, the method includes monitoring one or more parameters of a motor of the second fan indicative of an airflow rate of the conditioned airflow, and deactivating the burner assembly, whereby combustion of the fuel and air in the furnace ceases, in response to the one or more parameters indicating that the airflow rate is less than a minimum airflow rate.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2020Publication date: January 13, 2022Inventors: James R.M. Neal, Thomas Gort, Wayne N. Kraft, Sandeep Gowdagiri, Neal Harrington, David Williams, JR.
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Publication number: 20210399917Abstract: The present disclosure provides a CAN network topology for an HVAC communication system. The CAN network topology comprises at least three primary nodes having a predetermined termination impedance and a plurality of end nodes coupled to each primary node, wherein the predetermined termination impedance is set to the optimal setting of 180 ohms. Advantageously, the present disclosure eliminates the need for physically setting CAN node terminations. This reduces install time and removes variability of the install settings. Further, removing this variability reduces the risk for post-installation call-backs due to incorrect system setup. The present disclosure optimizes signal slew rate, which improves signal reliability.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2021Publication date: December 23, 2021Inventors: Ramon Portillo, Neal Harrington, Nathan Smith, Caleb A. Davis, Brad T. Wilson
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Patent number: 11133957Abstract: The present disclosure provides a CAN network topology for an HVAC communication system. The CAN network topology comprises at least three primary nodes having a predetermined termination impedance and a plurality of end nodes coupled to each primary node, wherein the predetermined termination impedance is set to the optimal setting of 180 ohms. Advantageously, the present disclosure eliminates the need for physically setting CAN node terminations. This reduces install time and removes variability of the install settings. Further, removing this variability reduces the risk for post-installation call-backs due to incorrect system setup. The present disclosure optimizes signal slew rate, which improves signal reliability.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2019Date of Patent: September 28, 2021Assignee: Trane International Inc.Inventors: Ramon Portillo, Neal Harrington, Nathan Smith, Caleb A. Davis, Brad T. Wilson
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Publication number: 20200382337Abstract: The present disclosure provides a CAN network topology for an HVAC communication system. The CAN network topology comprises at least three primary nodes having a predetermined termination impedance and a plurality of end nodes coupled to each primary node, wherein the predetermined termination impedance is set to the optimal setting of 180 ohms. Advantageously, the present disclosure eliminates the need for physically setting CAN node terminations. This reduces install time and removes variability of the install settings. Further, removing this variability reduces the risk for post-installation call-backs due to incorrect system setup. The present disclosure optimizes signal slew rate, which improves signal reliability.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2019Publication date: December 3, 2020Applicant: Trane International Inc.Inventors: Ramon Portillo, Neal Harrington, Nathan Smith, Caleb A. Davis, Brad T. Wilson