Patents by Inventor Randall L. Janssen

Randall L. Janssen 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: 9683758
    Abstract: A coaxial economizer for use in a chiller system comprising an inner housing and an outer housing having a common longitudinal axis. The outer housing has an inlet for receiving a fluid from a upstream compressor stage of a multistage compressor and an outlet for conveying a fluid to a downstream compressor stage of a multistage compressor. A flow chamber forms a fluid flow path about the inner housing. A flash chamber is coterminous with the flow chamber and flashes fluid in a liquid state to a gas state. A flow passage between said flash chamber and the flow chamber for conveying a flashed gas from the flash chamber to the flow chamber; wherein the flashed gas conveyed from the flash chamber and the fluid received from the inlet of the outer housing mix along the fluid flow path toward the outlet of the outer housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Rick T. James, Paul F. Haley, Randall L. Janssen, William J. Plzak
  • Patent number: 9556875
    Abstract: A centrifugal compressor assembly for compressing refrigerant in a 250-ton capacity or larger chiller system comprising a motor, preferably a compact, high energy density motor or permanent magnet motor, for driving a shaft at a range of sustained operating speeds under the control of a variable speed drive. Another embodiment of the centrifugal compressor assembly comprises a mixed flow impeller and a vaneless diffuser sized such that a final stage compressor operates with an optimal specific speed range for targeted combinations of head and capacity, while a non-final stage compressor operates above the optimum specific speed of the final stage compressor. Another embodiment of the centrifugal compressor assembly comprises an integrated inlet flow conditioning assembly to condition flow of refrigerant into an impeller to achieve a target approximately constant angle swirl distribution with minimal guide vane turning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Paul F. Haley, Dennis R. Dorman, Frederic Byron Hamm, Jr., David M. Foye, James A. Kwiatkowski, Rick T. James, Randall L. Janssen, William J. Plzak
  • Publication number: 20150013360
    Abstract: A coaxial economizer for use in a chiller system comprising an inner housing and an outer housing having a common longitudinal axis. The outer housing has an inlet for receiving a fluid from a upstream compressor stage of a multistage compressor and an outlet for conveying a fluid to a downstream compressor stage of a multistage compressor. A flow chamber forms a fluid flow path about the inner housing. A flash chamber is coterminous with the flow chamber and flashes fluid in a liquid state to a gas state. A flow passage between said flash chamber and the flow chamber for conveying a flashed gas from the flash chamber to the flow chamber; wherein the flashed gas conveyed from the flash chamber and the fluid received from the inlet of the outer housing mix along the fluid flow path toward the outlet of the outer housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Paul F. Haley, Dennis R. Dorman, Frederic Byron Hamm, David M. Foye, James A. Kwiatkowski, Rick T. James, Randall L. Janssen, William J. Plzak
  • Patent number: 8844318
    Abstract: A coaxial economizer for use in a chiller system comprising an inner housing and an outer housing having a common longitudinal axis. The outer housing has an inlet for receiving a fluid from a upstream compressor stage of a multistage compressor and an outlet for conveying a fluid to a downstream compressor stage of a multistage compressor. A flow chamber forms a fluid flow path about the inner housing. A flash chamber is coterminous with the flow chamber and flashes fluid in a liquid state to a gas state. A flow passage between said flash chamber and the flow chamber for conveying a flashed gas from the flash chamber to the flow chamber; wherein the flashed gas conveyed from the flash chamber and the fluid received from the inlet of the outer housing mix along the fluid flow path toward the outlet of the outer housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventors: Rick T. James, Paul F. Haley, Randall L. Janssen, William J. Plzak
  • Publication number: 20140127059
    Abstract: A centrifugal compressor assembly for compressing refrigerant in a 250-ton capacity or larger chiller system comprising a motor, preferably a compact, high energy density motor or permanent magnet motor, for driving a shaft at a range of sustained operating speeds under the control of a variable speed drive. Another embodiment of the centrifugal compressor assembly comprises a mixed flow impeller and a vaneless diffuser sized such that a final stage compressor operates with an optimal specific speed range for targeted combinations of head and capacity, while a non-final stage compressor operates above the optimum specific speed of the final stage compressor. Another embodiment of the centrifugal compressor assembly comprises an integrated inlet flow conditioning assembly to condition flow of refrigerant into an impeller to achieve a target approximately constant angle swirl distribution with minimal guide vane turning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: Trane International, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul F. Haley, Dennis R. Dorman, Frederic Byron Hamm, JR., David M. Foye, James A. Kwiatkowski, Rick T. James, Randall L. Janssen, William J. Plzak
  • Patent number: 8627680
    Abstract: A centrifugal compressor assembly for compressing refrigerant in a 250-ton capacity or larger chiller system comprising a motor, preferably a compact, high energy density motor or permanent magnet motor, for driving a shaft at a range of sustained operating speeds under the control of a variable speed drive. Another embodiment of the centrifugal compressor assembly comprises a mixed flow impeller and a vaneless diffuser sized such that a final stage compressor operates with an optimal specific speed range for targeted combinations of head and capacity, while a non-final stage compressor operates above the optimum specific speed of the final stage compressor. Another embodiment of the centrifugal compressor assembly comprises an integrated inlet flow conditioning assembly to condition flow of refrigerant into an impeller to achieve a target approximately constant angle swirl distribution with minimal guide vane turning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Trane International, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul H. Haley, Dennis R. Dorman, Frederic Byron Hamm, Jr., David M. Foye, James A. Kwiatkowski, Rick T. James, Randall L. Janssen, William J. Plzak
  • Publication number: 20120087815
    Abstract: A centrifugal compressor assembly for compressing refrigerant in a 250-ton capacity or larger chiller system comprising a motor, preferably a compact, high energy density motor or permanent magnet motor, for driving a shaft at a range of sustained operating speeds under the control of a variable speed drive. Another embodiment of the centrifugal compressor assembly comprises a mixed flow impeller and a vaneless diffuser sized such that a final stage compressor operates with an optimal specific speed range for targeted combinations of head and capacity, while a non-final stage compressor operates above the optimum specific speed of the final stage compressor. Another embodiment of the centrifugal compressor assembly comprises an integrated inlet flow conditioning assembly to condition flow of refrigerant into an impeller to achieve a target approximately constant angle swirl distribution with minimal guide vane turning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventors: Paul H. Haley, Dennis R. Dorman, Frederic Byron Hamm, JR., David M. Foye, James A. Kwiatkowski, Rick T. James, Randall L. Janssen, William J. Plzak
  • Publication number: 20110296859
    Abstract: A coaxial economizer for use in a chiller system comprising an inner housing and an outer housing having a common longitudinal axis. The outer housing has an inlet for receiving a fluid from a upstream compressor stage of a multistage compressor and an outlet for conveying a fluid to a downstream compressor stage of a multistage compressor. A flow chamber forms a fluid flow path about the inner housing. A flash chamber is coterminous with the flow chamber and flashes fluid in a liquid state to a gas state. A flow passage between said flash chamber and the flow chamber for conveying a flashed gas from the flash chamber to the flow chamber; wherein the flashed gas conveyed from the flash chamber and the fluid received from the inlet of the outer housing mix along the fluid flow path toward the outlet of the outer housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventors: Rick T. James, Paul F. Haley, Randall L. Janssen, William J. Plzak
  • Patent number: 8037713
    Abstract: A centrifugal compressor assembly for compressing refrigerant in a 250-ton capacity or larger chiller system comprising a motor, preferably a compact, high energy density motor or permanent magnet motor, for driving a shaft at a range of sustained operating speeds under the control of a variable speed drive. Another embodiment of the centrifugal compressor assembly comprises a mixed flow impeller and a vaneless diffuser sized such that a final stage compressor operates with an optimal specific speed range for targeted combinations of head and capacity, while a non-final stage compressor operates above the optimum specific speed of the final stage compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Trane International, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul F. Haley, Dennis R. Dorman, Frederic Byron Hamm, Jr., David M. Foye, James A. Kwiatkowski, Rick T. James, Randall L. Janssen, William J. Plzak
  • Patent number: 7975506
    Abstract: A coaxial economizer for use in a chiller system comprising an inner housing and an outer housing having a common longitudinal axis. The outer housing has an inlet for receiving a fluid from a upstream compressor stage of a multistage compressor and an outlet for conveying a fluid to a downstream compressor stage of a multistage compressor. A flow chamber forms a fluid flow path about the inner housing. A flash chamber is coterminous with the flow chamber and flashes fluid in a liquid state to a gas state. A flow passage between said flash chamber and the flow chamber for conveying a flashed gas from the flash chamber to the flow chamber; wherein the flashed gas conveyed from the flash chamber and the fluid received from the inlet of the outer housing mix along the fluid flow path toward the outlet of the outer housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Trane International, Inc.
    Inventors: Rick T. James, Paul F. Haley, Randall L. Janssen, William J. Plzak
  • Publication number: 20090205361
    Abstract: A coaxial economizer for use in a chiller system comprising an inner housing and an outer housing having a common longitudinal axis. The outer housing has an inlet for receiving a fluid from a upstream compressor stage of a multistage compressor and an outlet for conveying a fluid to a downstream compressor stage of a multistage compressor. A flow chamber forms a fluid flow path about the inner housing. A flash chamber is coterminous with the flow chamber and flashes fluid in a liquid state to a gas state. A flow passage between said flash chamber and the flow chamber for conveying a flashed gas from the flash chamber to the flow chamber; wherein the flashed gas conveyed from the flash chamber and the fluid received from the inlet of the outer housing mix along the fluid flow path toward the outlet of the outer housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventors: Rick T. James, Paul F. Haley, Randall L. Janssen, William J. Plzak
  • Publication number: 20090205360
    Abstract: A centrifugal compressor assembly for compressing refrigerant in a 250-ton capacity or larger chiller system comprising a motor, preferably a compact, high energy density motor or permanent magnet motor, for driving a shaft at a range of sustained operating speeds under the control of a variable speed drive. Another embodiment of the centrifugal compressor assembly comprises a mixed flow impeller and a vaneless diffuser sized such that a final stage compressor operates with an optimal specific speed range for targeted combinations of head and capacity, while a non-final stage compressor operates above the optimum specific speed of the final stage compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventors: Paul H. Haley, Dennis R. Dorman, Frederic Byron Hamm, Jr., David M. Foye, James A. Kwiatkowski, Rick T. James, Randall L. Janssen, William J. Plzak