Patents by Inventor Randall Scott Burnham
Randall Scott Burnham 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: 11300125Abstract: Embodiments to help detect operation conditions of a compressor of a TRU in real time by a genset are disclosed. The operation conditions of the compressor can be determined by monitoring a parameter pattern of the genset, such as value changes of a horsepower, a torque, an exhaust temperature, fuel consumption and/or a RPM of a prime mover of the genset, or a current drawn from a generator of the genset, over a period of time. In one embodiment, when a scroll compressor is used in the TRU, the scroll compressor may start a periodical load/unload duty cycle when the TRU reaches its setpoint. The periodical load/unload duty cycle of the scroll compressor can be detected based on a corresponding fluctuation pattern in genset parameters. When this periodically fluctuating pattern of ECU parameters and/or current drawn is detected, the prime mover can be switched to a low operation speed.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2020Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: Thermo King CorporationInventors: Randall Scott Burnham, David Jon Renken, Erich Albert Lucht, Cullen Evan Hall
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Publication number: 20200208636Abstract: Embodiments to help detect operation conditions of a compressor of a TRU in real time by a genset are disclosed. The operation conditions of the compressor can be determined by monitoring a parameter pattern of the genset, such as value changes of a horsepower, a torque, an exhaust temperature, fuel consumption and/or a RPM of a prime mover of the genset, or a current drawn from a generator of the genset, over a period of time. In one embodiment, when a scroll compressor is used in the TRU, the scroll compressor may start a periodical load/unload duty cycle when the TRU reaches its setpoint. The periodical load/unload duty cycle of the scroll compressor can be detected based on a corresponding fluctuation pattern in genset parameters. When this periodically fluctuating pattern of ECU parameters and/or current drawn is detected, the prime mover can be switched to a low operation speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2020Publication date: July 2, 2020Inventors: Randall Scott BURNHAM, David Jon RENKEN, Erich Albert LUCHT, Cullen Evan HALL
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Patent number: 10233829Abstract: A generator set for a transport refrigeration unit that is operable at a first frequency and a second frequency. The generator set includes a generator and a prime mover. The generator set is controlled by an electronic control unit (ECU) that is coupled to a controller. The ECU is configured to monitor the engine operation condition to obtain an engine operation condition value; whereas the controller is configured to receive the engine operation condition value and compare the value with an engine operation condition threshold. When the engine operation condition value, for example, exceeds the engine operation condition threshold, the controller instructs the ECU to operate the engine at a first speed; and when the engine operation condition value, for example, is below the engine operation condition threshold, the controller instructs the ECU to operate the engine at a second speed that is slower than the first speed.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2018Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignee: THERMO KING CORPORATIONInventors: Randall Scott Burnham, David Jon Renken, Erich Albert Lucht, Cullen Evan Hall, Alec Jeffery, Cesar Armengod Villalba
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Publication number: 20180306105Abstract: A generator set for a transport refrigeration unit that is operable at a first frequency and a second frequency. The generator set includes a generator and a prime mover. The generator set is controlled by an electronic control unit (ECU) that is coupled to a controller. The ECU is configured to monitor the engine operation condition to obtain an engine operation condition value; whereas the controller is configured to receive the engine operation condition value and compare the value with an engine operation condition threshold. When the engine operation condition value, for example, exceeds the engine operation condition threshold, the controller instructs the ECU to operate the engine at a first speed; and when the engine operation condition value, for example, is below the engine operation condition threshold, the controller instructs the ECU to operate the engine at a second speed that is slower than the first speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2018Publication date: October 25, 2018Inventors: Randall Scott Burnham, David Jon Renken, Erich Albert Lucht, Cullen Evan Hall, Alec Jeffery, Cesar Armengod Villalba
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Patent number: 9995210Abstract: A generator set for a transport refrigeration unit that is operable at a first frequency and a second frequency. The generator set includes a generator and a prime mover. The generator set is controlled by an electronic control unit (ECU) that is coupled to a controller. The ECU is configured to monitor the engine operation condition to obtain an engine operation condition value; whereas the controller is configured to receive the engine operation condition value and compare the value with an engine operation condition threshold. When the engine operation condition value, for example, exceeds the engine operation condition threshold, the controller instructs the ECU to operate the engine at a first speed; and when the engine operation condition value, for example, is below the engine operation condition threshold, the controller instructs the ECU to operate the engine at a second speed that is slower than the first speed.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignee: THERMO KING CORPORATIONInventors: Randall Scott Burnham, David Jon Renken, Erich Albert Lucht, Cullen Evan Hall, Alec Jeffery, Cesar Armengod Villalba
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Patent number: 9587869Abstract: A generator set for a transport refrigeration unit that is operable at a first frequency and a second frequency. The generator set includes a controller, a generator and a prime mover coupled to the generator. The prime mover selectively drives the generator in least at a first non-zero speed and a second non-zero speed. The controller can determine whether a transport refrigeration unit has sufficient capacity to maintain a desired temperature within a transport unit by detecting a generator load, a generator load slope condition, and a speed of the prime mover.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2014Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: THERMO KING CORPORATIONInventors: Randall Scott Burnham, Mike Stark, Mike Gaynor, J J Foo
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Publication number: 20160025397Abstract: A generator set for a transport refrigeration unit that is operable at a first frequency and a second frequency. The generator set includes a controller, a generator and a prime mover coupled to the generator. The prime mover selectively drives the generator in least at a first non-zero speed and a second non-zero speed. The controller can detect a capacity of the transport refrigeration unit and change the speed of the generator set to maintain a desired temperature within a transport unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2015Publication date: January 28, 2016Applicant: THERMO KING CORPORATIONInventors: Randall Scott BURNHAM, Mike STARK, Mike GAYNOR, JJ FOO
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Patent number: 9194286Abstract: A transport refrigeration system includes an engine, a generator set, and a refrigeration system. An electronic control unit and/or a reefer controller are configured to obtain an engine operation condition value and a transport refrigeration system operation value respectively. A genset controller is configured to determine a fuel efficient engine operation speed that is associated with the engine and/or transport refrigeration system operation condition value. The genset controller instructs the electronic control unit to operate the engine at the fuel efficient operation speed.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: THERMO KING CORPORATIONInventors: Randall Scott Burnham, David Jon Renken, Erich Albert Lucht
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Publication number: 20130298575Abstract: Systems and methods for remote monitoring of a transport refrigeration system are provided. In one embodiment, a transport refrigeration system (“TRS”) is provided that includes a transport refrigeration unit (“TRU”) and a generator set (“genset”). The TRU includes a refrigeration circuit and a TRS controller. The genset includes a power generator a genset controller, a TRU remote monitoring device configured to obtain TRU telemetry data and a genset remote monitoring device configured to obtain genset telemetry data. The TRS genset is configured to send the TRS telemetry data to an external server.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2013Publication date: November 14, 2013Applicant: THERMO KING CORPORATIONInventors: Mike Stark, Arlo Eslinger, Randall Scott Burnham
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Publication number: 20130283826Abstract: A transport refrigeration system includes an engine, a generator set, and a refrigeration system. An electronic control unit and/or a reefer controller are configured to obtain an engine operation condition value and a transport refrigeration system operation value respectively. A genset controller is configured to determine a fuel efficient engine operation speed that is associated with the engine and/or transport refrigeration system operation condition value. The genset controller instructs the electronic control unit to operate the engine at the fuel efficient operation speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2013Publication date: October 31, 2013Applicant: THERMO KING CORPORATIONInventors: Randall Scott Burnham, David Jon Renken, Erich Albert Lucht