Patents by Inventor Russ Tipton

Russ Tipton 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).

  • Multi-stage refrigeration system
    Patent number: 6553778
    Abstract: A multi-stage cooling system is disclosed. The multi-stage cooling system is capable of providing a plurality of cooling capacities. The cooling system has a plurality of independently operable compressors. A control system operates the compressors to provide a cooling capacity corresponding to the heat load of a space to be cooled. A condenser structure of the cooling system has a plurality of individual condenser coils. Each condenser coil has an independent refrigerant path receiving compressed refrigerant from one of the compressors. An evaporator structure of the cooling system has a plurality of individual evaporator coils. Each evaporator coil has an independent refrigerant path receiving condensed refrigerant from a corresponding condenser coil via an expansion mechanism and returning refrigerant to an input of a corresponding compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Russ Tipton, Terry Bush, Mike Graham, Jack Saunders
  • Method and apparatus for maintaining compressor discharge vapor volume for starting with condensing unit ambient temperatures less than evaporator unit ambient temperatures
    Patent number: 6490882
    Abstract: A method of preventing refrigerant condensation in a discharge volume or discharge line of a compressor is disclosed. The method involves the application of one or more heaters to a cooling circuit to prevent condensed refrigerant from migrating into the discharge line and/or discharge volume of the compressor. In one embodiment, a heater is in thermal communication with the dome of the compressor. The heater may be a band heater. In another embodiment, a flexible strip heater is used on the discharge line of the cooling circuit. In another embodiment, both a heater on the discharge volume of the compressor and a heater on the discharge line may be used to prevent migration and condensation of refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Liebert Corporation
    Inventor: Russ Tipton
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAINTAINING COMPRESSOR DISCHARGE VAPOR VOLUME FOR STARTING WITH CONDENSING UNIT AMBIENT TEMPERATURES LESS THAN EVAPORATOR UNIT AMBIENT TEMPERATURES
    Publication number: 20020139137
    Abstract: A method of preventing refrigerant condensation in a discharge volume or discharge line of a compressor is disclosed. The method involves the application of one or more heaters to a cooling circuit to prevent condensed refrigerant from migrating into the discharge line and/or discharge volume of the compressor. In one embodiment, a heater is in thermal communication with the dome of the compressor. The heater may be a band heater. In another embodiment, a flexible strip heater is used on the discharge line of the cooling circuit. In another embodiment, both a heater on the discharge volume of the compressor and a heater on the discharge line may be used to prevent migration and condensation of refrigerant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventor: Russ Tipton
  • Multi-stage refrigeration system
    Publication number: 20020092318
    Abstract: A multi-stage cooling system is disclosed. The multi-stage cooling system is capable of providing a plurality of cooling capacities. The cooling system has a plurality of independently operable compressors. A control system operates the compressors to provide a cooling capacity corresponding to the heat load of a space to be cooled. A condenser structure of the cooling system has a plurality of individual condenser coils. Each condenser coil has an independent refrigerant path receiving compressed refrigerant from one of the compressors. An evaporator structure of the cooling system has a plurality of individual evaporator coils. Each evaporator coil has an independent refrigerant path receiving condensed refrigerant from a corresponding condenser coil via an expansion mechanism and returning refrigerant to an input of a corresponding compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Inventors: Russ Tipton, Terry Bush, Mike Graham, Jack Saunders