Patents by Inventor Neil J. Rathje
Neil J. Rathje 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: 20240108154Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a temperature-controlled displays and refrigeration systems for temperature-controlled displays. For instance, in one implementation a temperature-controlled display includes a multi-loop refrigeration system with reclaim heating and a condensation control system. The refrigeration system includes a refrigeration loop and a cooling loop in thermal communication with the refrigeration loop. The refrigeration loop is configured to refrigerate the temperature-controlled display. The cooling loop is configured to remove heat from the refrigeration loop and provide the heat removed from the refrigeration loop as reclaim heat. The condensation control system includes a heat exchanger in thermal communication with the cooling loop. The heat exchanger is configured to transfer the reclaim heat from the cooling loop to a flow of air directed over a transparent surface of the temperature-controlled display.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2022Publication date: April 4, 2024Inventor: Neil J. Rathje
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Patent number: 11892217Abstract: A refrigeration system for a temperature-controlled storage device includes a refrigeration circuit that circulates a refrigerant, a separate cooling circuit that circulates a coolant, and a controller. The refrigeration circuit includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator. The cooling circuit includes a pump, a control valve, and a heat removing device in fluid communication with the condenser via the coolant. The controller is operatively coupled to the control valve and configured to identify a coolant temperature differential setpoint, monitor a temperature of the coolant provided to the condenser by the cooling circuit, calculate a coolant temperature differential based on the temperature of the coolant provided to the condenser, and operate the control valve to modulate a flow of the coolant through the condenser to drive the coolant temperature differential to the coolant temperature differential setpoint.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2021Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignee: Hill Phoenix, Inc.Inventors: Timothy D. Swofford, Neil J. Rathje, Jules G. Choueifati
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Publication number: 20230026023Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates refrigeration systems for temperature-controlled displays. For instance, one exemplary embodiment relates to a refrigeration system that includes a refrigeration circuit, a cooling circuit, a reclaim heat circuit, and a floor heating system. The refrigeration circuit includes a compressor driven by a brushless DC motor operable at multiple different speeds, a first heat exchanger, an expansion device, and a cooling unit in fluid communication using a first working fluid. The cooling unit is arranged to cool a temperature-controlled storage device. The cooling circuit includes a pump and a second heat exchanger in thermal communication with the first heat exchanger using a second working fluid such that the first heat exchanger is liquid-cooled by the second working fluid. The reclaim heat circuit is in fluid communication with the cooling circuit. The floor heating system is coupled to the heat reclaim circuit as a reclaim heat load.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2022Publication date: January 26, 2023Inventors: Jules G. Choueifati, Timothy D. Swofford, Neil J. Rathje
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Patent number: 11371765Abstract: A refrigeration system for a temperature-controlled storage device includes a refrigeration circuit, a cooling circuit, and a controller. The refrigeration circuit includes a compressor driven by a brushless DC motor operable at multiple different speeds, a first heat exchanger, an expansion device, and a cooling unit in fluid communication via a first working fluid. The cooling circuit includes a pump and a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger via a second working fluid such that the first heat exchanger is liquid-cooled by the second working fluid. The controller operates the brushless DC motor at multiple different speeds to accommodate multiple different thermal loads experienced by the refrigeration system. Each of the speeds corresponds to a different thermal load. The controller modulates the speed of the brushless DC motor to maintain a desired temperature of a temperature-controlled space within the temperature-controlled device.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2019Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: Hill Phoenix, Inc.Inventors: Jules G. Choueifati, Timothy D. Swofford, Neil J. Rathje
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Publication number: 20220003475Abstract: A refrigeration system for a temperature-controlled storage device includes a refrigeration circuit that circulates a refrigerant, a separate cooling circuit that circulates a coolant, and a controller. The refrigeration circuit includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator. The cooling circuit includes a pump, a control valve, and a heat removing device in fluid communication with the condenser via the coolant. The controller is operatively coupled to the control valve and configured to identify a coolant temperature differential setpoint, monitor a temperature of the coolant provided to the condenser by the cooling circuit, calculate a coolant temperature differential based on the temperature of the coolant provided to the condenser, and operate the control valve to modulate a flow of the coolant through the condenser to drive the coolant temperature differential to the coolant temperature differential setpoint.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2021Publication date: January 6, 2022Inventors: Timothy D. Swofford, Neil J. Rathje, Jules G. Choueifati
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Patent number: 11125483Abstract: A refrigeration system for a temperature-controlled storage device includes a refrigeration circuit that circulates a refrigerant, a separate cooling circuit that circulates a coolant, and a controller. The refrigeration circuit includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator. The cooling circuit includes a pump, a control valve, and a heat removing device in fluid communication with the condenser via the coolant. The controller is operatively coupled to the control valve and configured to identify a coolant temperature differential setpoint, monitor a temperature of the coolant provided to the condenser by the cooling circuit, calculate a coolant temperature differential based on the temperature of the coolant provided to the condenser, and operate the control valve to modulate a flow of the coolant through the condenser to drive the coolant temperature differential to the coolant temperature differential setpoint.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2016Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignee: Hill Phoenix, Inc.Inventors: Timothy D. Swofford, Neil J. Rathje, Jules G. Choueifati
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Publication number: 20200217569Abstract: A refrigeration system for a temperature-controlled storage device includes a refrigeration circuit, a cooling circuit, and a controller. The refrigeration circuit includes a compressor driven by a brushless DC motor operable at multiple different speeds, a first heat exchanger, an expansion device, and a cooling unit in fluid communication via a first working fluid. The cooling circuit includes a pump and a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger via a second working fluid such that the first heat exchanger is liquid-cooled by the second working fluid. The controller operates the brushless DC motor at multiple different speeds to accommodate multiple different thermal loads experienced by the refrigeration system. Each of the speeds corresponds to a different thermal load. The controller modulates the speed of the brushless DC motor to maintain a desired temperature of a temperature-controlled space within the temperature-controlled device.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2019Publication date: July 9, 2020Applicant: Hilll Phoenix, Inc.Inventors: Jules G. Choueifati, Timothy D. Swofford, Neil J. Rathje
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Patent number: 10393420Abstract: A refrigeration system for a temperature-controlled storage device includes a refrigeration circuit, a cooling circuit, and a controller. The refrigeration circuit includes a compressor driven by a brushless DC motor operable at multiple different speeds, a first heat exchanger, an expansion device, and a cooling unit in fluid communication via a first working fluid. The cooling circuit includes a pump and a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger via a second working fluid such that the first heat exchanger is liquid-cooled by the second working fluid. The controller operates the brushless DC motor at multiple different speeds to accommodate multiple different thermal loads experienced by the refrigeration system. Each of the speeds corresponds to a different thermal load. The controller modulates the speed of the brushless DC motor to maintain a desired temperature of a temperature-controlled space within the temperature-controlled device.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2018Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: Hill Phoenix, Inc.Inventors: Jules G. Choueifati, Timothy D. Swofford, Neil J. Rathje
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Publication number: 20190072308Abstract: A refrigeration system for a temperature-controlled storage device includes a refrigeration circuit, a cooling circuit, and a controller. The refrigeration circuit includes a compressor driven by a brushless DC motor operable at multiple different speeds, a first heat exchanger, an expansion device, and a cooling unit in fluid communication via a first working fluid. The cooling circuit includes a pump and a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger via a second working fluid such that the first heat exchanger is liquid-cooled by the second working fluid. The controller operates the brushless DC motor at multiple different speeds to accommodate multiple different thermal loads experienced by the refrigeration system. Each of the speeds corresponds to a different thermal load. The controller modulates the speed of the brushless DC motor to maintain a desired temperature of a temperature-controlled space within the temperature-controlled device.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2018Publication date: March 7, 2019Applicant: Hill Phoenix, Inc.Inventors: Jules G. Choueifati, Timothy D. Swofford, Neil J. Rathje
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Patent number: 10151518Abstract: A refrigeration system for a temperature-controlled storage device includes a refrigeration circuit, a cooling circuit, and a controller. The refrigeration circuit includes a compressor driven by a brushless DC motor operable at multiple different speeds, a first heat exchanger, an expansion device, and a cooling unit in fluid communication via a first working fluid. The cooling circuit includes a pump and a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger via a second working fluid such that the first heat exchanger is liquid-cooled by the second working fluid. The controller operates the brushless DC motor at multiple different speeds to accommodate multiple different thermal loads experienced by the refrigeration system. Each of the speeds corresponds to a different thermal load. The controller modulates the speed of the brushless DC motor to maintain a desired temperature of a temperature-controlled space within the temperature-controlled device.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2016Date of Patent: December 11, 2018Assignee: Hill Phoenix, Inc.Inventors: Jules G. Choueifati, Timothy D. Swofford, Neil J. Rathje
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Publication number: 20180103777Abstract: A refrigerated display case includes a duct for directing an air stream, an air curtain discharge, an advance discharge opening, and an air curtain return. The air curtain discharge is coupled to the duct to discharge the air stream to produce an air curtain. The advance discharge opening is coupled to the duct upstream of the air curtain discharge to produce an auxiliary air stream directed towards the air curtain, forming a redirected air curtain. The air curtain return receives the redirected air curtain for recirculation to the duct.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2017Publication date: April 19, 2018Applicant: Hill Phoenix, Inc.Inventors: Roy Bates, Neil J. Rathje, Timothy D. Swofford, Lawrence W. Eget
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Publication number: 20170363337Abstract: A refrigeration system for a temperature-controlled storage device includes a refrigeration circuit that circulates a refrigerant, a separate cooling circuit that circulates a coolant, and a controller. The refrigeration circuit includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator. The cooling circuit includes a pump, a control valve, and a heat removing device in fluid communication with the condenser via the coolant. The controller is operatively coupled to the control valve and configured to identify a coolant temperature differential setpoint, monitor a temperature of the coolant provided to the condenser by the cooling circuit, calculate a coolant temperature differential based on the temperature of the coolant provided to the condenser, and operate the control valve to modulate a flow of the coolant through the condenser to drive the coolant temperature differential to the coolant temperature differential setpoint.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2016Publication date: December 21, 2017Applicant: Hill Phoenix, Inc.Inventors: Timothy D. Swofford, Neil J. Rathje, Jules G. Choueifati
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Publication number: 20160209097Abstract: A refrigeration system for a temperature-controlled storage device includes a refrigeration circuit, a cooling circuit, and a controller. The refrigeration circuit includes a compressor driven by a brushless DC motor operable at multiple different speeds, a first heat exchanger, an expansion device, and a cooling unit in fluid communication via a first working fluid. The cooling circuit includes a pump and a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger via a second working fluid such that the first heat exchanger is liquid-cooled by the second working fluid. The controller operates the brushless DC motor at multiple different speeds to accommodate multiple different thermal loads experienced by the refrigeration system. Each of the speeds corresponds to a different thermal load. The controller modulates the speed of the brushless DC motor to maintain a desired temperature of a temperature-controlled space within the temperature-controlled device.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2016Publication date: July 21, 2016Applicant: Hill Phoenix, Inc.Inventors: Jules G. Choueifati, Timothy D. Swofford, Neil J. Rathje