Patents by Inventor Robert S. Hunka
Robert S. Hunka 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: 6857577Abstract: A thermally powered VAV diffuser assembly (21, 221) having a housing (42, 242) formed for coupling to a supply air duct or conduit (22, 222), a damper (24, 224) mounted across a supply air opening (27, 227) for movement relative thereto to vary the volume of supply air discharge from the diffuser and a thermally powered damper position controlled device or assembly (28, 228). The control assembly (28, 228) includes not more than two sensor-actuators (31, 32, 231, 232) and a movable linkage assembly. The linkage assembly transmits movement of the sensor-actuators (31, 32, 231, 232) to the damper (24, 224) for displacement of the damper (24, 224) to vary the volume discharged and to produce change-overs between heating and cooling modes. The heating mode and cooling mode set point temperatures are each independently adjustable, and the movable linkage assembly includes a lever (33, 233) pivoted about two pivot points by axles (82, 83, 282, 283) which slide in slots (87, 88, 287, 288).Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2004Date of Patent: February 22, 2005Assignee: Acutherm L.P.Inventor: Robert S. Hunka
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Publication number: 20040169089Abstract: A thermally powered VAV diffuser assembly (21, 221) having a housing (42, 242) formed for coupling to a supply air duct or conduit (22, 222), a damper (24, 224) mounted across a supply air opening (27, 227) for movement relative thereto to vary the volume of supply air discharge from the diffuser and a thermally powered damper position controlled device or assembly (28, 228). The control assembly (28, 228) includes not more than two sensor-actuators (31, 32, 231, 232) and a movable linkage assembly. The linkage assembly transmits movement of the sensor-actuators (31, 32, 231, 232) to the damper (24, 224) for displacement of the damper (24, 224) to vary the volume discharged and to produce change-overs between heating and cooling modes. The heating mode and cooling mode set point temperatures are each independently adjustable, and the movable linkage assembly includes a lever (33, 233) pivoted about two pivot points by axles (82, 83, 282, 283) which slide in slots (87, 88, 287, 288).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2004Publication date: September 2, 2004Inventor: Robert S. Hunka
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Patent number: 6736326Abstract: A thermally powered VAV diffuser assembly (21, 221) having a housing (42, 242) formed for coupling to a supply air duct or conduit (22, 222), a damper (24, 224) mounted across a supply air opening (27, 227) for movement relative thereto to vary the volume of supply air discharge from the diffuser and a thermally powered damper position controlled device or assembly (28, 228). The control assembly (28, 228) includes not more than two sensor-actuators (31, 32, 231, 232) and a movable linkage assembly. The linkage assembly transmits movement of the sensor-actuators (31, 32, 231, 232) to the damper (24, 224) for displacement of the damper (24, 224) to vary the volume discharged and to produce change-overs between heating and cooling modes. The heating mode and cooling mode set point temperatures are each independently adjustable, and the movable linkage assembly includes a lever (33, 233) pivoted about two pivot points by axles (82, 83, 282, 283) which slide in slots (87, 88, 287, 288).Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2002Date of Patent: May 18, 2004Assignee: Acutherm L.P.Inventor: Robert S. Hunka
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Publication number: 20030146291Abstract: A thermally powered VAV diffuser assembly (21, 221) having a housing (42, 242) formed for coupling to a supply air duct or conduit (22, 222), a damper (24, 224) mounted across a supply air opening (27, 227) for movement relative thereto to vary the volume of supply air discharge from the diffuser and a thermally powered damper position controlled device or assembly (28, 228). The control assembly (28, 228) includes not more than two sensor-actuators (31, 32, 231, 232) and a movable linkage assembly. The linkage assembly transmits movement of the sensor-actuators (31, 32, 231, 232) to the damper (24, 224) for displacement of the damper (24, 224) to vary the volume discharged and to produce change-overs between heating and cooling modes. The heating mode and cooling mode set point temperatures are each independently adjustable, and the movable linkage assembly includes a lever (33, 233) pivoted about two pivot points by axles (82, 83, 282, 283) which slide in slots (87, 88, 287, 288).Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2002Publication date: August 7, 2003Applicant: Acutherm L.P.Inventor: Robert S. Hunka
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Patent number: 6581847Abstract: An adaptive control device (77) and method (102-108) for control of the operation of an actuator (72), and particularly thermally-powered actuator (72) of the type used in a variable-air-volume diffuser (71). The preferred adaptive control device is an expert system circuit which controls a heater (74) provided on a thermally-powered actuator (72) to implement an adaptive process (102-108) in which a sensed variable, such as room air temperature, is driven toward a target temperature control range (±0.25° F.). Most preferably, the process steps (106) include driving the room air temperature toward a gross (broader) temperature control range (±1.0° F.) by moving a diffuser damper assembly (80) to a substantially fully open or substantially fully closed position.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2001Date of Patent: June 24, 2003Assignee: Acutherm L.P.Inventors: James R. Kline, Robert S. Hunka, Matthew L. Costick
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Publication number: 20010042792Abstract: An adaptive control device (77) and method (102-108) for control of the operation of an actuator (72), and particularly thermally-powered actuator (72) of the type used in a variable-air-volume diffuser (71). The preferred adaptive control device is an expert system circuit which controls a heater (74) provided on a thermally-powered actuator (72) to implement an adaptive process (102-108) in which a sensed variable, such as room air temperature, is driven toward a target temperature control range (±0.25° F.). Most preferably, the process steps (106) include driving the room air temperature toward a gross (broader) temperature control range (±1.0° F.) by moving a diffuser damper assembly (80) to a substantially fully open or substantially fully closed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2001Publication date: November 22, 2001Applicant: ACUTHERM L.P., a California Limited PartnershipInventors: James R. Kline, Robert S. Hunka, Matthew L. Costick
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Patent number: 6250560Abstract: An adaptive control device (77) and method (102-108) for control of the operation of an actuator (72), and particularly thermally-powered actuator (72) of the type used in a variable-air-volume diffuser (71). The preferred adaptive control device is an expert system circuit which controls a heater (74) provided on a thermally-powered actuator (72) to implement an adaptive process (102-108) in which a sensed variable, such as room air temperature, is driven toward a target temperature control range (±0.25° F.). Most preferably, the process steps (106) include driving the room air temperature toward a gross (broader) temperature control range (±1.0° F.) by moving a diffuser damper assembly (80) to a substantially fully open or substantially fully closed position.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 1998Date of Patent: June 26, 2001Assignee: Acutherm L.P.Inventors: James R. Kline, Robert S. Hunka, Matthew L. Costick
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Patent number: 5860592Abstract: A variable-air-volume (VAV) conditioning system having at least one diffuser (27a-27d) for discharging supply air (SA) into a room (22a-22d) a flow control element (53) movably mounted in the diffuser for control of the volume of supply air (SA) discharged from the diffuser (27a-27d) in response to thermal loading in the room (22a-22d). The VAV system also includes a ventilation air source (41), independent of the supply air source (23), which is fluid coupled to a ventilation air opening defining structure (59), such as a nozzle, located in the diffuser housing (15) at a position downstream of the flow control element (53).Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 1997Date of Patent: January 19, 1999Assignee: Acutherm L.P.Inventors: Jack Dozier, Robert S. Hunka, James R. Kline
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Patent number: 5673851Abstract: A variable-air-volume (VAV) conditioning system having at least one diffuser (27a-27d), a flow control element (53) movably mounted for control of the volume of supply air (SA) discharged from the diffuser (27a-27d). The VAV system also includes an air induction nozzle (50,58) mounted to induce room air (RA) flow over a room air temperature sensor (28a, 28a') which controls movement of the flow control element (53). The induction air nozzle (50,58), however, is fluid coupled to a ventilation air assembly for the discharge of ventilation air (VA) into the rooms (22a-22d). Preferably, the induction air assembly is provided by a ventilation conduit assembly (44, 46a-46d) and a ventilation air treatment and supply assembly (41) fluid coupled to a ventilation air source. The ventilation air is discharged through the air induction nozzles (58).Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 1995Date of Patent: October 7, 1997Assignee: Acutherm L.P.Inventors: Jack Dozier, Robert S. Hunka, James R. Kline
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Patent number: 4821955Abstract: A thermally-powered active master and passive satellite or slave diffuser system is disclosed. The system includes a master diffuser (24) with a displaceable damper assembly (41) mounted in the diffuser housing (31) and a thermal sensor-actuator assembly (46) positioned proximate the damper assembly (41) and proximate the master outlet (34, 58). An induction channel (47) communicates secondary air from proximate the master discharge outlet (34, 58) to the thermal sensor-actuator assembly (46) for accurate control of modulation by the damper assembly (41) of air flow to both the master (24) and passive slave (26) diffusers. The thermal sensor-actuator assembly (46) is capable of both cooling and heating and employs opposed sensor-actuator units (81, 102, 111) with override mountings (126, 128, 141) to effect changeover between heating and cooling.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 1988Date of Patent: April 18, 1989Assignee: Acutherm, Ltd.Inventors: James R. Kline, Robert S. Hunka