Patents by Inventor Neil D. Hurt

Neil D. Hurt 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: 11761698
    Abstract: A defrost cycle control assembly includes a first sensor that is configured to measure a temperature adjacent a top portion of an outdoor heat exchanger of a heat pump, a second sensor that is configured to measure a temperature adjacent a bottom portion of the outdoor heat exchanger, and a third sensor that is configured to measure an ambient temperature. Further, the defrost cycle control assembly includes a controller that is configured to initiate a defrost cycle of the heat pump based on the temperature adjacent the top portion and the ambient temperature when said temperatures indicate formation of frost at the top portion of the outdoor heat exchanger where the first sensor is disposed. The controller is configured to terminate the defrost cycle when the temperature at the bottom portion reaches a termination temperature which indicates that the frost on the outdoor heat exchanger has melted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: RHEEM MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Aniket R. Kalambe, Walter R. Lowrimore, Neil D. Hurt, Michael Andrews, Randy Foster
  • Publication number: 20210396451
    Abstract: A defrost cycle control assembly includes a first sensor that is configured to measure a temperature adjacent a top portion of an outdoor heat exchanger of a heat pump, a second sensor that is configured to measure a temperature adjacent a bottom portion of the outdoor heat exchanger, and a third sensor that is configured to measure an ambient temperature. Further, the defrost cycle control assembly includes a controller that is configured to initiate a defrost cycle of the heat pump based on the temperature adjacent the top portion and the ambient temperature when said temperatures indicate formation of frost at the top portion of the outdoor heat exchanger where the first sensor is disposed. The controller is configured to terminate the defrost cycle when the temperature at the bottom portion reaches a termination temperature which indicates that the frost on the outdoor heat exchanger has melted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Inventors: Aniket R. Kalambe, Walter R. Lowrimore, Neil D. Hurt, Michael Andrews, Randy Foster
  • Patent number: 11047610
    Abstract: A defrost cycle control assembly includes a first sensor that is configured to measure a temperature adjacent a top portion of an outdoor heat exchanger of a heat pump, a second sensor that is configured to measure a temperature adjacent a bottom portion of the outdoor heat exchanger, and a third sensor that is configured to measure an ambient temperature. Further, the defrost cycle control assembly includes a controller that is configured to initiate a defrost cycle of the heat pump based on the temperature adjacent the top portion and the ambient temperature when said temperatures indicate formation of frost at the top portion of the outdoor heat exchanger where the first sensor is disposed. The controller is configured to terminate the defrost cycle when the temperature at the bottom portion reaches a termination temperature which indicates that the frost on the outdoor heat exchanger has melted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Aniket R. Kalambe, Walter R. Lowrimore, Neil D. Hurt, Michael Andrews, Randy Foster
  • Publication number: 20200309444
    Abstract: A defrost cycle control assembly includes a first sensor that is configured to measure a temperature adjacent a top portion of an outdoor heat exchanger of a heat pump, a second sensor that is configured to measure a temperature adjacent a bottom portion of the outdoor heat exchanger, and a third sensor that is configured to measure an ambient temperature. Further, the defrost cycle control assembly includes a controller that is configured to initiate a defrost cycle of the heat pump based on the temperature adjacent the top portion and the ambient temperature when said temperatures indicate formation of frost at the top portion of the outdoor heat exchanger where the first sensor is disposed. The controller is configured to terminate the defrost cycle when the temperature at the bottom portion reaches a termination temperature which indicates that the frost on the outdoor heat exchanger has melted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Aniket R. Kalambe, Walter R. Lowrimore, Neil D. Hurt, Michael Andrews, Randy Foster
  • Patent number: 7430877
    Abstract: A packaged air conditioner or heat pump unit is provided with an elongated removable drain pan having an inner longitudinal portion that underlies and receives condensate falling from the portion of the unit's indoor coil positioned within the conditioned air flow through the unit. An outer longitudinal portion of the drain pan underlies tubing portion return bends of the coil positioned outside of the conditioned air flow and separated from the inner longitudinal pan portion by a vertical dividing wall having a small condensate transfer hole therein. During cooling operation of the unit, the unit blower creates a negative pressure inwardly adjacent the hole which draws return bend condensation from the outer longitudinal pan portion into the inner longitudinal pan portion for drainage outwardly therefrom, with the condensate received from the balance of the coil, via a drain line connected to the pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Bradford B. Davenport, Kenneth D. Frederick, Neil D. Hurt