Patents by Inventor Richard C. Furman

Richard C. Furman 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: 20230221031
    Abstract: A system and terminal unit are provided for efficiently and effectively conditioning indoor air. Some embodiments address temperature control, humidity control, air quality control, while also introducing conditioned outdoor air. One aspect relates to a terminal unit that monitors and controls sensible and latent cooling rates to simultaneously meet temperature and humidity setpoints for the conditioned space. A sensor suite provides measurements for monitoring cooling rates and a control system controls actuators to meet the sensible and latent cooling requirements. The terminal unit may have a secondary recirculation air intake that bypasses the cooling coil to warm supply air prior to exiting the terminal unit. The terminal unit may be part of an air conditioning system where it is connected to a main branch of a hybrid branch controller which avoids having a home run to the HBC for each terminal unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2023
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Applicant: FT Energy Controls, LLC
    Inventors: Richard C. Furman, Zachary M. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20220154972
    Abstract: A terminal unit is provided for cooling a conditioned space. The terminal unit is provided conditioned air and augments cooling with a local heat exchanger. The terminal unit controls the flow of coolant through the heat exchanger. Latent cooling provided by the conditioned air is augmented by allowing moisture accumulation on the heat exchanger. The terminal unit lacks a drainage system so deleterious moisture accumulation (e.g., dripping) is avoided by monitoring moisture accumulation and controlling the terminal unit accordingly. If the moisture accumulation is below a threshold, the terminal unit is permitted to provide latent cooling locally. If the moisture accumulation is above a threshold, the terminal unit prevents further local latent cooling. Some sensor configurations allow for calculation of air flow rates, the latent cooling rate, and moisture accumulation. This information is used to achieve the desired room conditions more rapidly and precisely.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: Chilled Beam Controls, LLC
    Inventors: Richard C. Furman, Zachary M. Thomas