Patents by Inventor Robert R. Brown
Robert R. Brown 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: 11953239Abstract: A heat pump system provides at least six modes of heating, cooling, and/or domestic water heating operation, where domestic water heating may occur concurrently with heating or cooling a space in a structure. The heat pump system comprises a desuperheater positioned downstream of the compressor and operable as a desuperheater, a condenser or an evaporator, a source heat exchanger operable as either a condenser or an evaporator, a load heat exchanger operable as either a condenser or an evaporator, a reversing valve positioned downstream of the desuperheater heat exchanger and configured to alternately direct refrigerant flow from the desuperheater heat exchanger to one of the load heat exchanger and the source heat exchanger and to alternately return refrigerant flow from the other of the load heat exchanger and the source heat exchanger to the compressor, and an expansion valve positioned between the load heat exchanger and the source heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2023Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: WaterFurnace International, Inc.Inventor: Robert R. Brown
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Patent number: 11933606Abstract: A vehicle wheel alignment system has a plurality of cameras, each camera for viewing a respective target disposed at a respective wheel of the vehicle and capturing image data of the target as the wheel and target are continuously rotated a number of degrees of rotation without a pause. The image data is used to calculate a minimum number of poses of the target of at least one pose for every five degrees of rotation as the wheel and target are continuously rotated the number of degrees of rotation without a pause. At least one of the cameras comprises a data processor for performing the steps of preprocessing the image data, and calculating an alignment parameter for the vehicle based on the preprocessed image data.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2022Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Snap-On IncorporatedInventors: Steven W. Rogers, David A. Jackson, Bradley Lewis, Adam C. Brown, Robert J. D'Agostino, Eric R. Sellers
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Patent number: 11927377Abstract: An air conditioning system can be toggled between a heating mode, in which heat is withdrawn from a source (e.g., a geothermal source) and deposited into a conditioned space (e.g., a building), and a cooling mode, in which heat is withdrawn from the conditioned space and deposited into the source. The air conditioning system uses a combination of efficiency-enhancing technologies, including injection of superheated vapor into the system's compressor from an economizer circuit, adjustable compressor speed, the use of one or coaxial heat exchangers and the use of electronic expansion valves that are continuously adjustable from a fully closed to various open positions. A controller may be used to control the system for optimal performance in both the heating and cooling modes, such as by disabling the economizer circuit and vapor injection when the system is in the cooling mode.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2022Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignee: WaterFurnace International, Inc.Inventors: Timothy A. Hammond, Robert R. Brown
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Publication number: 20230272929Abstract: An AID application including processing instructions operable by a processor to: present a graphical user interface (GUI) on a display screen, the GUI operable to receive user parameter values from a user; receive monitored parameter values from a space conditioning unit (SCU) controller; perform an auto-commissioning routine using the user parameter value and the monitored parameter values, the auto-commissioning routine including: generating a command for the SCU controller to place the SCU in heating and cooling modes; receiving the monitored parameter values in the heating and cooling modes and comparing the monitored parameter values to a model; based on the comparison, determining if the monitored parameter values are within expected or unexpected ranges, taking a first action if the monitored parameter values are within the expected ranges; an taking a second action if the monitored parameter values are within the unexpected ranges.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2022Publication date: August 31, 2023Inventor: Robert R. Brown
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Patent number: 11732921Abstract: A control method for a space conditioning system operable with a stages thermostat, the method including: powering a control module comprising including an output terminal, a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and control logic; detecting receipt of the first input signal at the first input terminal; responsive to detecting receipt of the first input signal, outputting a first value of the plurality of values, the first value corresponding to the first input signal; after outputting the first value, outputting one or more values of the plurality of values, the one or more values being larger than the first value; detecting receipt of the second input signal at the second input terminal; and responsive to detecting receipt of the second input signal, outputting a second value of the plurality of values, the second value corresponding to the second input signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2021Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: WaterFurnace International, Inc.Inventors: Robert R. Brown, Dennis L. Harris
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Publication number: 20230221045Abstract: A heat pump system provides at least six modes of heating, cooling, and/or domestic water heating operation, where domestic water heating may occur concurrently with heating or cooling a space in a structure. The heat pump system comprises a desuperheater positioned downstream of the compressor and operable as a desuperheater, a condenser or an evaporator, a source heat exchanger operable as either a condenser or an evaporator, a load heat exchanger operable as either a condenser or an evaporator, a reversing valve positioned downstream of the desuperheater heat exchanger and configured to alternately direct refrigerant flow from the desuperheater heat exchanger to one of the load heat exchanger and the source heat exchanger and to alternately return refrigerant flow from the other of the load heat exchanger and the source heat exchanger to the compressor, and an expansion valve positioned between the load heat exchanger and the source heat exchanger.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2023Publication date: July 13, 2023Inventor: Robert R. Brown
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Publication number: 20230204240Abstract: A space conditioning system and method for monitoring electrical parameters and/or thermodynamic parameters relating to the heat of extraction/rejection or power consumption of the system and to communicate the monitored parameters to an external device.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2023Publication date: June 29, 2023Inventors: Robert R. Brown, Nicholas Hartman, Aaron Lindsey, Michael Taylor, Caleb Chichester, Bruce Henderson, Chris Mann, George Yang, Timothy Hammond, Matthew Kolter, Troy Moon
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Publication number: 20230071945Abstract: A control method for a space conditioning system operable with a stages thermostat, the method including: powering a control module comprising including an output terminal, a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and control logic; detecting receipt of the first input signal at the first input terminal; responsive to detecting receipt of the first input signal, outputting a first value of the plurality of values, the first value corresponding to the first input signal; after outputting the first value, outputting one or more values of the plurality of values, the one or more values being larger than the first value; detecting receipt of the second input signal at the second input terminal; and responsive to detecting receipt of the second input signal, outputting a second value of the plurality of values, the second value corresponding to the second input signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2021Publication date: March 9, 2023Inventors: Robert R. Brown, Dennis L. Harris
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Patent number: 11592201Abstract: A space conditioning system and method for monitoring electrical parameters and/or thermodynamic parameters relating to the heat of extraction/rejection or power consumption of the system and to communicate the monitored parameters to an external device.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2020Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: WATERFURNACE INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Robert R. Brown, Nicholas Hartman, Aaron Lindsey, Michael Taylor, Caleb Chichester, Bruce Henderson, Chris Mann, George Yang, Timothy Hammond, Matthew Kolter, Troy Moon
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Patent number: 11592215Abstract: A heat pump system provides at least six modes of heating, cooling, and/or domestic water heating operation, where domestic water heating may occur concurrently with heating or cooling a space in a structure. The heat pump system comprises a desuperheater positioned downstream of the compressor and operable as a desuperheater, a condenser or an evaporator, a source heat exchanger operable as either a condenser or an evaporator, a load heat exchanger operable as either a condenser or an evaporator, a reversing valve positioned downstream of the desuperheater heat exchanger and configured to alternately direct refrigerant flow from the desuperheater heat exchanger to one of the load heat exchanger and the source heat exchanger and to alternately return refrigerant flow from the other of the load heat exchanger and the source heat exchanger to the compressor, and an expansion valve positioned between the load heat exchanger and the source heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2019Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: WaterFurnace International, Inc.Inventor: Robert R. Brown
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Publication number: 20230055507Abstract: An air conditioning system can be toggled between a heating mode, in which heat is withdrawn from a source (e.g., a geothermal source) and deposited into a conditioned space (e.g., a building), and a cooling mode, in which heat is withdrawn from the conditioned space and deposited into the source. The air conditioning system uses a combination of efficiency-enhancing technologies, including injection of superheated vapor into the system's compressor from an economizer circuit, adjustable compressor speed, the use of one or coaxial heat exchangers and the use of electronic expansion valves that are continuously adjustable from a fully closed to various open positions. A controller may be used to control the system for optimal performance in both the heating and cooling modes, such as by disabling the economizer circuit and vapor injection when the system is in the cooling mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2022Publication date: February 23, 2023Inventors: Timothy A. Hammond, Robert R. Brown
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Patent number: 11480372Abstract: An air conditioning system can be toggled between a heating mode, in which heat is withdrawn from a source (e.g., a geothermal source) and deposited into a conditioned space (e.g., a building), and a cooling mode, in which heat is withdrawn from the conditioned space and deposited into the source. The air conditioning system uses a combination of efficiency-enhancing technologies, including injection of superheated vapor into the system's compressor from an economizer circuit, adjustable compressor speed, the use of one or coaxial heat exchangers and the use of electronic expansion valves that are continuously adjustable from a fully closed to various open positions. A controller may be used to control the system for optimal performance in both the heating and cooling modes, such as by disabling the economizer circuit and vapor injection when the system is in the cooling mode.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2020Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Assignee: WATERFURNACE INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Timothy A. Hammond, Robert R. Brown
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Publication number: 20220082268Abstract: A heat pump system includes a compressor coupled to a first variable speed motor, a first heat exchanger, a geothermal heat exchanger, a fan coupled to a second variable speed motor, and an expansion device. The heat pump system also includes a refrigerant loop which fluidly couples the compressor, the geothermal heat exchanger, the expansion device, and the first heat exchanger. The heat pump system also includes a controller configured to adjust a first speed of the first variable speed motor, a second speed of the second variable speed motor, and an operation of the expansion device based upon a thermal energy demand.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2021Publication date: March 17, 2022Inventors: Timothy A. Hammond, Dennis L. Harris, Robert R. Brown
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Publication number: 20210270501Abstract: A geothermal heat pump system which may be installed in a building and operated as an air source heat pump system using an exterior heat exchanger as a heat source or heat source/sink, but which includes geothermal components including a geothermal heat exchanger. The geothermal heat exchanger may be isolated in initial operation of the system for heating and cooling but may be connected to a geothermal heat source/sink following initial installation of the heat pump system for use in heating and cooling as a heat source and a heat source/sink, respectively. In this manner, the heat pump system may be initially operated as a standard air source heat pump and optionally later converted into a geothermal heat pump system.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2021Publication date: September 2, 2021Inventors: Robert R. Brown, Christopher C. Mann, Christopher D. Manz, Brett Troy Ross, Willem Lange, Timothy C. Litton, Bruce R. Cole
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Publication number: 20210010703Abstract: A space conditioning system and method for monitoring electrical parameters and/or thermodynamic parameters relating to the heat of extraction/rejection or power consumption of the system and to communicate the monitored parameters to an external device.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2020Publication date: January 14, 2021Inventors: Robert R. Brown, Nicholas Hartman, Aaron Lindsey, Michael Taylor, Caleb Chichester, Bruce Henderson, Chris Mann, George Yang, Timothy Hammond, Matthew Kolter, Troy Moon
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Publication number: 20200378667Abstract: An air conditioning system can be toggled between a heating mode, in which heat is withdrawn from a source (e.g., a geothermal source) and deposited into a conditioned space (e.g., a building), and a cooling mode, in which heat is withdrawn from the conditioned space and deposited into the source. The air conditioning system uses a combination of efficiency-enhancing technologies, including injection of superheated vapor into the system's compressor from an economizer circuit, adjustable compressor speed, the use of one or coaxial heat exchangers and the use of electronic expansion valves that are continuously adjustable from a fully closed to various open positions. A controller may be used to control the system for optimal performance in both the heating and cooling modes, such as by disabling the economizer circuit and vapor injection when the system is in the cooling mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2020Publication date: December 3, 2020Inventors: Timothy A. Hammond, Robert R. Brown
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Patent number: 10853232Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for creating a test performance monitoring and reporting system that is adaptive for use with different types of mobile devices are disclosed. The test performance monitoring and reporting system adapts itself to be interoperable with different models of mobile device by combining sequences of deterministic logic blocks with device-specific asset libraries. Logic blocks can be added to or removed from the sequence. Logic blocks implement different operations of mobile devices, including using assets, launching applications, and replaying sequences of command interface interactions recorded from test users. The asset library contains assets corresponding to mobile device elements that can be manipulated by users. These assets are device-specific, and a test script can be adapted to fit a particular mobile device model by replacing the existing assets in the script with assets from the asset library of the particular mobile device.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2018Date of Patent: December 1, 2020Assignee: Spirent Communications, Inc.Inventors: Evan C. Henry, Ian S. Becker, Robert R. Brown, Yuanke Wang
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Patent number: 10788227Abstract: A space conditioning system and method for monitoring electrical parameters and/or thermodynamic parameters relating to the heat of extraction/rejection or power consumption of the system and to communicate the monitored parameters to an external device.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2014Date of Patent: September 29, 2020Assignee: WaterFurnace International Inc.Inventors: Robert R. Brown, Nicholas Hartman, Aaron Lindsey, Michael Taylor, Caleb Chichester, Bruce Henderson, Chris Mann, George Yang, Timothy Hammond, Matthew Kolter, Troy Moon
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Patent number: 10753661Abstract: An air conditioning system can be toggled between a heating mode, in which heat is withdrawn from a source (e.g., a geothermal source) and deposited into a conditioned space (e.g., a building), and a cooling mode, in which heat is withdrawn from the conditioned space and deposited into the source. The air conditioning system uses a combination of efficiency-enhancing technologies, including injection of superheated vapor into the system's compressor from an economizer circuit, adjustable compressor speed, the use of one or coaxial heat exchangers and the use of electronic expansion valves that are continuously adjustable from a fully closed to various open positions. A controller may be used to control the system for optimal performance in both the heating and cooling modes, such as by disabling the economizer circuit and vapor injection when the system is in the cooling mode.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2018Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: WaterFurnace International, Inc.Inventors: Timothy A. Hammond, Robert R. Brown
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Publication number: 20200072510Abstract: A heat pump system provides at least six modes of heating, cooling, and/or domestic water heating operation, where domestic water heating may occur concurrently with heating or cooling a space in a structure. The heat pump system comprises a desuperheater positioned downstream of the compressor and operable as a desuperheater, a condenser or an evaporator, a source heat exchanger operable as either a condenser or an evaporator, a load heat exchanger operable as either a condenser or an evaporator, a reversing valve positioned downstream of the desuperheater heat exchanger and configured to alternately direct refrigerant flow from the desuperheater heat exchanger to one of the load heat exchanger and the source heat exchanger and to alternately return refrigerant flow from the other of the load heat exchanger and the source heat exchanger to the compressor, and an expansion valve positioned between the load heat exchanger and the source heat exchanger.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2019Publication date: March 5, 2020Inventor: Robert R. Brown