Patents by Inventor Philip Holoch

Philip Holoch 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: 20230417443
    Abstract: A method of controlling a thermal power transfer of a thermal energy exchanger (80) of an HVAC system (1), the method comprising: receiving, by a controller (10), a setpoint thermal power transfer (Power SP); measuring, by a flow sensor (52), a measured flow of fluid (?act) through the thermal energy exchanger (80); determining, by the controller (10), an estimated thermal power transfer (Power EST), using the measured flow of fluid (?act) and a defined flow rate to delta-T mapping; comparing, by the controller (10), the setpoint thermal power transfer (Power SP) and the estimated thermal power transfer (Power EST); and regulating, by the controller (10), the flow (?act) of the fluid (W) through the thermal energy exchanger (80) based on the comparing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Applicant: BELIMO Holding AG
    Inventors: Samuel FUX, Stefan MISCHLER, Peter SCHMIDLIN, Marc THUILLARD, Valentin GRESCH, Philip HOLOCH, Wiliam ZOGG
  • Publication number: 20230324067
    Abstract: A flow control device for an HVAC fluid transportation system includes a sensor module and a logic module. The sensor module includes a flow measurement system to be connected with a flow tube and measures a volumetric flow of a fluid through the flow tube. The sensor module further includes a first electronic circuit connected electrically to the flow measurement system. The logic module is connected to the sensor module and includes a control signal output terminal and a second electronic circuit connected to the first electronic circuit. The second electronic circuit generates and applies on the control signal output terminal an actuator control signal, using the volumetric flow of the fluid measured by the flow measurement system, for an actuator, arranged outside the flow tube of the flow control device, to actuate a valve of the HVAC fluid transportation system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Applicant: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Philip HOLOCH, Daniel HAUSER, Benjamin SCHOENENBERGER, Pasquale WINTSCH, Michael HEDIGER, Silvio GROGG, Peter SCHMIDLIN
  • Patent number: 11725842
    Abstract: A flow control device (1) for an HVAC fluid transportation system comprises a flow tube (10) formed in one piece, a flow measurement system (11) integrated with the flow tube (10) and configured to measure a volumetric flow of fluid (?) through the flow tube (10), and an electronic circuit (12) arranged in a fixed fashion on the flow tube (10) and connected electrically to the flow measurement system (11). The flow control device (1) further comprises a control signal output terminal (13) attached to the flow tube (10) and connected to the electronic circuit (12). The electronic circuit (12) is configured to generate and apply on the control signal output terminal (13) an actuator control signal, using the volumetric flow of fluid (?) measured by the flow measurement system (11), for an actuator actuating a valve of the HVAC fluid transportation system (2) arranged outside the flow tube (10) of the flow control device (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Philip Holoch, Daniel Hauser, Benjamin Schönenberger, Pasquale Wintsch, Michael Hediger, Silvio Grogg, Peter Schmidlin
  • Publication number: 20230146901
    Abstract: A method for determining antifreeze content in a fluid of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes receiving, in a processor, measurement data of the fluid, the measurement data comprising a measured temperature of the fluid and a measured speed of sound in the fluid, calculating, in the processor, for each of a plurality of antifreeze concentration values a fitting parameter, using the measurement data and one or more of previous measurement data or previous antifreeze concentration data, and determining, in the processor, an antifreeze concentration in the fluid by selecting the antifreeze concentration value with an optimal fitting parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Applicant: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Forest REIDER, Stefan MISCHLER, Volkher SCHOLZ, Philip HOLOCH
  • Publication number: 20200400341
    Abstract: A flow control device (1) for an HVAC fluid transportation system comprises a flow tube (10) formed in one piece, a flow measurement system (11) integrated with the flow tube (10) and configured to measure a volumetric flow of fluid (?) through the flow tube (10), and an electronic circuit (12) arranged in a fixed fashion on the flow tube (10) and connected electrically to the flow measurement system (11). The flow control device (1) further comprises a control signal output terminal (13) attached to the flow tube (10) and connected to the electronic circuit (12). The electronic circuit (12) is configured to generate and apply on the control signal output terminal (13) an actuator control signal, using the volumetric flow of fluid (?) measured by the flow measurement system (11), for an actuator actuating a valve of the HVAC fluid transportation system (2) arranged outside the flow tube (10) of the flow control device (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Applicant: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Philip HOLOCH, Daniel HAUSER, Benjamin SCHÖNENBERGER, Pasquale WINTSCH, Michael HEDIGER, Silvio GROGG, Peter SCHMIDLIN
  • Patent number: 10782709
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic flow controller (30) for applications in the HVAC field, said electronic flow controller comprising a one-piece valve body (31) which is penetrated by a flowing medium. The valve body is divided into a valve portion (31a) and a flow measurement portion (31b) along the flow direction, wherein a valve element (32) is arranged in the valve section (31a) for the control of flow, wherein said valve element can be controlled from the outside via a valve spindle (33), and wherein a measurement path (36) is formed in the flow measurement portion (31b) for determining the flow rate by means of ultrasound. In order to achieve a compact arrangement and a greatly simplified assembly, accesses (34a, b) for coupling and/or outcoupling ultrasound into or from the measuring path (36) are formed on the valve body (31) in the region of the flow measurement portion (31b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Philip Holoch, Reto Hobi
  • Publication number: 20190041878
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic flow controller (30) for applications in the HVAC field, said electronic flow controller comprising a one-piece valve body (31) which is penetrated by a flowing medium. The valve body is divided into a valve portion (31a) and a flow measurement portion (31b) along the flow direction, wherein a valve element (32) is arranged in the valve section (31a) for the control of flow, wherein said valve element can be controlled from the outside via a valve spindle (33), and wherein a measurement path (36) is formed in the flow measurement portion (31b) for determining the flow rate by means of ultrasound. In order to achieve a compact arrangement and a greatly simplified assembly, accesses (34a, b) for coupling and/or outcoupling ultrasound into or from the measuring path (36) are formed on the valve body (31) in the region of the flow measurement portion (31b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Applicant: Belimo Holding AG
    Inventors: Philip HOLOCH, Reto HOBI
  • Patent number: 9429484
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the heat flow (dQ/dt) emanating from a heat transporting fluid (12), which is a mixture of at least two different fluids, and which flows through a flow space (11) from a first position, where it has a first temperature (T1), to a second position, where it has, due to that heat flow (dQ/dt), a second temperature (T2), which is lower than said first temperature (T1), whereby the density and specific heat of said heat transporting fluid (12) is determined by measuring the speed of sound (vs) in said fluid, and said density and specific heat of said heat transporting fluid (12) is used to determine the heat flow (dQ/dt).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: BELIMO Holding AG
    Inventors: Mats Lindgren, Carl Carlander, Philip Holoch
  • Patent number: 9327148
    Abstract: A drive apparatus (1) for a fire damper (2) having an electric drive (10), which holds the fire damper in a normal position when power is supplied and moves it into a safety position when no power is supplied. A thermal contact breaker (12) interrupts the power supply to the drive (10) at a melt temperature. The drive apparatus (1) also has a temperature sensor (13) for measuring the air temperature (T), a gas sensor (14) for measuring the content (G) of fumes in the air, and a switch module (15), which interrupts the power supply depending on the values of T and G. In the event of a fire, the fire damper can thus be moved into a safety position not only when the temperature in the region of the thermal contact breaker (12) is high, but already when smoke or gas develops as a result of the fire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: BELIMO Holding AG
    Inventors: Philip Holoch, Marc Thuillard
  • Publication number: 20130259083
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the heat flow (dQ/dt) emanating from a heat transporting fluid (12), which is a mixture of at least two different fluids, and which flows through a flow space (11) from a first position, where it has a first temperature (T1), to a second position, where it has, due to that heat flow (dQ/dt), a second temperature (T2), which is lower than said first temperature (T1), whereby the density and specific heat of said heat transporting fluid (12) is determined by measuring the speed of sound (vs) in said fluid, and said density and specific heat of said heat transporting fluid (12) is used to determine the heat flow (dQ/dt).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Mats Lindgren, Carl Carlander, Philip Holoch
  • Patent number: 8366906
    Abstract: A lambda probe in which a measuring point for oxygen in a sensor is connected via a diffusion gap with a reaction chamber. The reaction chamber drives oxygen along the diffusion gap. A desired oxygen partial pressure is set in the reaction chamber. The pump current, which is proportional to the strength of the stream of oxygen driven along the diffusion gap, can be used as a measurement for the partial pressure of the residual oxygen in the exhaust gas during a normal operating phase. The lambda probe can be operated for test purposes intermittently in a high or low phase, in which the oxygen partial pressure in the reaction chamber is a minimum or maximum value. While changing between the operating phases, by comparing the pump currents with empirical values, conclusions with regard to the ability of the probe to function can be derived.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Sulzer Hexis AG
    Inventors: Philip Holoch, Thomas Gamper
  • Patent number: 8256285
    Abstract: A flow sensor (1) comprising a flow channel (14) embedded in a base body (1?), a flow sensor element (13) adjacent to the flow channel (14) and a cover plate (12) covering the flow channel (14) and arranged on the base body (1?). The flow channel (14) is formed by an elastic sealing lip (15) which delimits the channel (14), running on and around an upper side of the base body (1?) lying opposite the cover plate (12) such that a seal is formed. This arrangement allows the formation of a sealed structure where a flow channel (14) with a level channel that avoids contamination and turbulence and has laminar current flowing through the flow channel (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: BELIMO Holding, AG
    Inventors: Philip Holoch, Karin Megnet, Curdin Staheli
  • Publication number: 20120037713
    Abstract: A drive apparatus (1) for a fire damper (2) comprises an electric drive (10), which holds the fire damper in the normal position when power is supplied and moves it into a safety position when no power is supplied. In addition to a thermal contact breaker (12), which interrupts the power supply to the drive (10) at a melt temperature, the drive apparatus (1) also comprises a temperature sensor (13) for measuring the air temperature value (T), a gas sensor (14) for measuring the content (G) of fumes in the air, and a switch module (15), which interrupts the power supply depending on the air temperature value (T) and the content (G) of fumes in the air. In the event of a fire, the fire damper can thus be moved into a safety position not only when the temperature in the region of the thermal contact breaker (12) is high, but already when smoke or gas develops as a result of the fire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Philip Holoch, Marc Thuillard
  • Publication number: 20110105012
    Abstract: A device for measuring a volume flow in a ventilation pipe (1) comprises a mounting (8) that can be fixed in the ventilation pipe (1) and a sensor element (13) having a sensor surface (18.1), said element being disposed on the mounting (8) and configured as a thermal anemometer. Upstream of the sensor element (13) is a turbulence-generating element, for example in the form of a break-away edge (17.1), which is configured and disposed at a distance from the sensor surface (18.1) such that highly turbulent flow is generated in the region of the sensor surface (18.1) in a targeted manner. Downstream of the sensor surface (18.1) is a flow element (20), which widens in the cross-section thereof in the flow direction (L), wherein starting from a height level of the sensor surface (18.1) a height is reached that is greater than the height of the break-away edge (17.1) opposite the sensor surface (18.1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Urs Niederhauser, Frank Lehnert, Egli Egli, Philip Holoch
  • Publication number: 20110036162
    Abstract: In a flow sensor (1) comprising a flow channel (14) embedded in a base body (1?), a flow sensor element (13) adjacent to the flow channel (14) and a cover plate (12) covering the flow channel (14) and arranged on the base body (1?), the flow channel (14) is formed by an elastic sealing lip which delimits said channel (14), running on and around an upper side of the base body (1?) lying opposite the cover plate (12) and is pressed against the cover plate (12) such that a seal is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Philip Holoch, Karin Megnet, Curdin Staheli
  • Publication number: 20090057163
    Abstract: A lambda probe (1) is used with the measuring apparatus for monitoring residual oxygen in an exhaust gas, in which a measuring point for oxygen in a sensor (2) is connected via a diffusion gap (22) with a reaction chamber (24). During operation of the probe the reaction chamber drives a stream of oxygen IO2 along the diffusion gap by means of a controllably adjustable oxygen partial pressure pi. By means of an electro-chemical, oxygen ion pump driven by an electrical pump current Ip, an oxygen partial pressure pi predetermined as a desired value is set in the reaction chamber. In this arrangement the pump current, the strength of which is proportional to the strength of the stream of oxygen driven along the diffusion gap, can be used as a measurement parameter for the partial pressure pm of the residual oxygen in the exhaust gas or its concentration. The residual oxygen can be monitored during a normal operating phase, the phase N.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: Sulzer Hexis AG
    Inventors: Philip Holoch, Thomas Gamper
  • Patent number: 7041406
    Abstract: The fuel cell battery (1) has an integrated heat exchanger (4) which is arranged between a heat insulating jacket (12) and a stack (10) of high temperature fuel cells (2). There is a chamber (3), preferably at least two chambers for afterburning, between a periphery (14) of the cell stack and the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is provided for a heat transfer from an exhaust gas (7) to a gaseous oxygen carrier (5). There are arranged on the stack periphery (14), outside or inside the chamber or chambers respectively, inlet points (25a) for the oxygen carrier, on the one hand, and outlet points (25b, 26b) for non-converted educts, namely a fuel gas (6) and the oxygen carrier, on the other hand. The heat exchanger (4) includes a passage system (4) through which the exhaust gas (7) and the oxygen carrier (5) flow largely in transverse planes disposed perpendicular to the axis of the cell stack (10) in one operating state of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Sulzer Hexis AG
    Inventors: Alexander Schuler, John Schild, Markus Jenne, Philip Holoch
  • Publication number: 20050000832
    Abstract: A lambda probe (1) is used with the measuring apparatus for monitoring residual oxygen in an exhaust gas, in which a measuring point for oxygen in a sensor (2) is connected via a diffusion gap (22) with a reaction chamber (24). During operation of the probe the reaction chamber drives a stream of oxygen IO2 along the diffusion gap by means of a controllably adjustable oxygen partial pressure pi. By means of an electro-chemical, oxygen ion pump driven by an electrical pump current Ip, an oxygen partial pressure pi predetermined as a desired value is set in the reaction chamber. In this arrangement the pump current, the strength of which is proportional to the strength of the stream of oxygen driven along the diffusion gap, can be used as a measurement parameter for the partial pressure pm of the residual oxygen in the exhaust gas or its concentration. The residual oxygen can be monitored during a normal operating phase, the phase N.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Publication date: January 6, 2005
    Applicant: Sulzer Hexis AG
    Inventors: Philip Holoch, Thomas Gamper
  • Publication number: 20040043267
    Abstract: The fuel cell battery (1) has an integrated heat exchanger (4) which is arranged between a heat insulating jacket (12) and a stack (10) of high temperature fuel cells (2). There is a chamber (3), preferably at least two chambers, for afterburning, between a periphery (14) of the cell stack and the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is provided for a heat transfer from an exhaust gas (7) to a gaseous oxygen carrier (5). There are arranged on the stack periphery (14), outside or inside the chamber or chambers respectively, inlet points (25a) for the oxygen carrier, on the one hand, and outlet points (25b, 26b) for non-converted educts, namely a fuel gas (6) and the oxygen carrier, on the other hand. The heat exchanger (4) includes a passage system (4) through which the exhaust gas (7) and the oxygen carrier (5) flow largely in transverse planes disposed perpendicular to the axis of the cell stack (10) in one operating state of the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Applicant: Sulzer Hexis AG
    Inventors: Alexander Schuler, John Schild, Markus Jenne, Philip Holoch
  • Patent number: 6682836
    Abstract: The method for the operation of fuel cell battery (10) comprises a control system (14), through which the electrochemical reactions in cells (11) of the battery are influenced. Gaseous flows (1, 2) of two educts (A, B) are fed into the battery in a controlled manner in a conditionally predetermined ratio of quantities and are passed through the cells separately. The first educt (A) contains oxidizing components, the second educt (B) contains reducing components and the first educt is in particular ambient air. The educt flows (1, 2) are united after passage through the cells and are further treated by means of an afterburning process and with the production of a flow (3) of exhaust gas (C), so that at the conditionally predetermined ratio of quantities the reducing components are completely oxidized. The first educt flow, in particular the air flow, is variable through the control system to a limited extent; it is used for a regulation of the reaction temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Sulzer Hexis AG
    Inventors: Andreas Rüegge, Thomas Gamper, Philip Holoch