Patents by Inventor Russell T. Jenks

Russell T. Jenks 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).

  • Patent number: 11619269
    Abstract: During installation, an engagement structure of an actuator assembly positioning device restricts movement of a securement element of an anti-rotation bracket past a target location (e.g. midpoint) relative to a securement slot of an thereby, thereby guiding a user in positioning the anti-rotation bracket and actuator in a desired mounting arrangement. An optional constricting structure of the positioning device provides tactile feedback that the desired arrangement of the anti-rotation bracket and actuator has been reached. Upon being subject to a force in excess of a threshold force (e.g., as a result of eccentric loading on the actuator arising from an off-centered mounting of the actuator relative to a rotatable shaft), the engagement structure transitions to a second configuration in which the securement element is allowed to move past the target location, thereby accommodating eccentric movement of the actuator during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventor: Russell T. Jenks
  • Patent number: 11280424
    Abstract: An actuator includes a drive device, and energy storage element and an actuator controller. The energy storage element is charged during operation of the actuator using power from an external power source. The drive device drives a valve member to a failsafe setpoint using energy from the energy storage element in the event of a power loss during operation of the actuator. The actuator controller provides a drive signal to the drive device indicating the valve member orientation (i.e. the failsafe setpoint) to which the drive device is to drive the valve member. The failsafe setpoint is determined based on the last fluid source that was controlled by the actuator of the fluid system prior to the power outage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Kevin A. Weiss, Gary A. Romanowich, Stephanie P. Lynn, Russell T. Jenks
  • Patent number: 11273335
    Abstract: A fire damper actuation system in an HVAC system includes a damper system and an actuator system. The damper system includes damper blades rotatable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, a crank arm assembly configured to drive the damper blades, a spring assembly configured to be held in a loaded condition when the damper blades are in the open configuration, a temperature-activated fusible link, and a fusible link arm coupling the temperature-activated fusible link to the crank arm assembly. The actuator system includes a motor and a drive device. The drive device is coupled to the crank arm assembly and the temperature-activated fusible link. Operation of the drive device by the motor between a first end stop location and a second end stop location simultaneously rotates the crank arm assembly and the temperature-activated fusible link to complete a test inspection procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Russell T. Jenks, Kyle M. Bero, Myles S. McCaleb, Nicholas P. Prato, Stephanie P. Lynn, Kent S. Maune
  • Patent number: 11255445
    Abstract: A valve assembly is disclosed. The valve assembly may a valve body defined by an inlet port, an outlet port and flange. A movable valve member comprises an inlet opening extending from a leading edge surface present at a narrow slot region to trailing edge surface present at about a full bore region wherein the angle between the leading edge surface and trailing edge surface at the center of valve member is about 270 degrees. The fluid flow from the inlet port of the valve body to one or more outlet openings is controlled by the rotation of the valve member. Rotation of movable valve member enables linear controlling of the fluid flow wherein the control of fluid flow is proportional to the degrees of rotation from 0 to about 270 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Russell T. Jenks, Kyle M. Bero
  • Patent number: 11181238
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling flow with a rotatable valve are provided. A described system includes a valve body having a valve chamber and a plurality of ports into the valve chamber. The plurality of ports include a first port, a second port, and a third port. The first port and the second port are aligned with a common axis and located on opposite sides of the valve chamber. The system further includes a valve member located within the valve chamber. The valve member is controllably rotatable to modulate fluid flow between the first port and the third port while maintaining the second port completely closed and to modulate fluid flow between the second port and the third port while maintaining the first port completely closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Russell T. Jenks
  • Patent number: 11168919
    Abstract: A removable circuit card assembly configured to be inserted into an HVAC device is provided. The removable circuit card assembly includes a printed wiring board, an enclosure cap coupled to the printed wiring board, and a dual in-line package (DIP) switch component coupled to the printed wiring board. The DIP switch component includes multiple DIP switches. Each of the DIP switches is configured to be actuated between a first position and a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Russell T. Jenks, Cory C. Strebe, Kevin A. Weiss
  • Patent number: 11047491
    Abstract: An actuator controls the operation of a valve member to achieve desired flow or no-flow states through different inlet ports of the valve in response to different types of input signals from one or more input sources. In some embodiments, the actuator drives the valve member along a first portion of a travel path to regulate flow through a first inlet port using analog or binary input signal(s) from a first input source, and drives the valve member along a second portion of the travel path to regulate flow through a second inlet port using analog or binary input signal(s) from a second input source. In some embodiments the actuator drives the valve member along the entire travel path to regulate flow through each of the first inlet port and the second inlet port responsive to an analog input signal from a single input source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Russell T. Jenks, Gary A. Romanowich, Stephanie P. Lynn, Ralph L. Arndt, Jr., Matthew A. Ward
  • Patent number: 11042171
    Abstract: A building management system is configured to modify an environmental condition of a building. The building management system includes a valve assembly, an actuator device, and a network sensor device. The actuator device includes a motor, a drive device driven by the motor and coupled to the valve assembly, and a controller coupled to the motor. The controller includes a microprocessor and a control application configured to enable closed loop control of the valve assembly. The network sensor device is communicably coupled to the actuator device and configured to measure an environmental property. The control application is configured to perform the closed loop control of the valve assembly based on an input control signal from a mobile device and the measured environmental property from the network sensor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Kirk H. Drees, Herbert J. Doll, Gerald A. Duenkel, Marcello Passoni, Russell T. Jenks, Duane S. Freimuth, Kyle M. Bero, Kevin A. Weiss, Abu Bakr Khan
  • Patent number: 11041652
    Abstract: A system including a valve positioned in a conduit, wherein the valve is configured to change fluid flow through the conduit. The system includes an actuator having a motor that is configured to selectively rotate the valve toward a desired valve orientation. The system is configured to receive a request for a desired valve orientation, control the motor to move the valve into the desired valve orientation, and sense a condition corresponding to a current valve orientation following movement by the motor. The system is configured to determine if the sensed condition indicates that the current valve orientation matches the desired valve orientation from the request, and, responsive to determining that the current valve orientation does not match the desired valve orientation from the request, control the motor to selectively rotate the valve in a direction to move the valve towards the desired valve orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Russell T. Jenks
  • Patent number: 11002368
    Abstract: A valve assembly is provided. The valve assembly includes a valve body having a valve chamber and a plurality of ports into the valve chamber. The plurality of ports include a first port, a second port, and a third port. The first port and the second port are aligned with a common axis and located on opposite sides of the valve chamber. The system further includes a valve member located within the valve chamber. The valve member is a rotatable ball having a fluid passage that extends through the ball and includes an opening at the end of the ball. The fluid passage is substantially oval-shaped when viewed at the opening in a direction parallel to the fluid passage. The valve assembly further includes a valve stem that is coupled to a valve member and has a first end that extends from the valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Bernard P. Clement, Brian D. Klarkowski, Duane S. Freimuth, Kevin A. Weiss, Russell T. Jenks, Kyle M. Bero, Nicholas P. Prato, Gary A. Romanowich
  • Publication number: 20210115977
    Abstract: During installation, an engagement structure of an actuator assembly positioning device restricts movement of a securement element of an anti-rotation bracket past a target location (e.g. midpoint) relative to a securement slot of an thereby, thereby guiding a user in positioning the anti-rotation bracket and actuator in a desired mounting arrangement. An optional constricting structure of the positioning device provides tactile feedback that the desired arrangement of the anti-rotation bracket and actuator has been reached. Upon being subject to a force in excess of a threshold force (e.g., as a result of eccentric loading on the actuator arising from an off-centered mounting of the actuator relative to a rotatable shaft), the engagement structure transitions to a second configuration in which the securement element is allowed to move past the target location, thereby accommodating eccentric movement of the actuator during operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventor: Russell T. Jenks
  • Patent number: 10921013
    Abstract: An actuator includes an actuator housing having a first engagement feature and a motor located within the actuator housing and configured to rotate a driver. The actuator also includes a stroke limiting component coupled to the driver and has a second engagement feature. One of the first and second engagement features is a channel and another of the first and second engagement features is a protrusion. The protrusion is configured to fit within the channel to define a stroke of the actuator based at least in part on a length of the channel or a length of the protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Russell T. Jenks
  • Patent number: 10883666
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling flow with a 270 degree rotatable valve are provided. A described system includes a valve body having a valve chamber and a plurality of ports into the valve chamber. The plurality of ports include a first port, a second port, and a third port. The first port and the second port are aligned with a common axis and located on opposite sides of the valve chamber. The system further includes a valve member located within the valve chamber. The valve member is controllably rotatable by approximately 270 degrees to modulate fluid flow between the first port and the third port while maintaining the second port completely closed and to modulate fluid flow between the second port and the third port while maintaining the first port completely closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Russell T. Jenks
  • Patent number: 10886715
    Abstract: A conduit adaptor for an HVAC component includes a body having a substantially cylindrical shape, a first end configured to fit at least partially within the HVAC component, and a second end configured to couple to a conduit. The body is rotatable relative to the HVAC component between an unlocked position and a locked position when the first end is inserted into the HVAC component. The body further includes a bore extending axially through the body from the first end to the second end, and a first tab and a second tab extending radially outward from the first end. The first tab and the second tab are configured to prevent the body from being removed from the HVAC component when the body is in the locked position. The first tab includes a retention feature configured to retain the body in the locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Russell T. Jenks
  • Publication number: 20200408435
    Abstract: An actuator includes an actuator housing having a first engagement feature and a motor located within the actuator housing and configured to rotate a driver. The actuator also includes a stroke limiting component coupled to the driver and has a second engagement feature. One of the first and second engagement features is a channel and another of the first and second engagement features is a protrusion. The protrusion is configured to fit within the channel to define a stroke of the actuator based at least in part on a length of the channel or a length of the protrusion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Russell T. Jenks
  • Publication number: 20200378505
    Abstract: A valve assembly is disclosed. The valve assembly may a valve body defined by an inlet port, an outlet port and flange. A movable valve member comprises an inlet opening extending from a leading edge surface present at a narrow slot region to trailing edge surface present at about a full bore region wherein the angle between the leading edge surface and trailing edge surface at the center of valve member is about 270 degrees. The fluid flow from the inlet port of the valve body to one or more outlet openings is controlled by the rotation of the valve member. Rotation of movable valve member enables linear controlling of the fluid flow wherein the control of fluid flow is proportional to the degrees of rotation from 0 to about 270 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Russell T. Jenks, Kyle M. Bero
  • Publication number: 20200378517
    Abstract: An actuator includes a drive device, and energy storage element and an actuator controller. The energy storage element is charged during operation of the actuator using power from an external power source. The drive device drives a valve member to a failsafe setpoint using energy from the energy storage element in the event of a power loss during operation of the actuator. The actuator controller provides a drive signal to the drive device indicating the valve member orientation (i.e. the failsafe setpoint) to which the drive device is to drive the valve member. The failsafe setpoint is determined based on the last fluid source that was controlled by the actuator of the fluid system prior to the power outage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Kevin Weiss, Gary A. Romanowich, Stephanie P. Lynn, Russell T. Jenks
  • Patent number: 10844966
    Abstract: A valve assembly is provided. The valve assembly includes a valve body having a valve chamber and a plurality of ports into the valve chamber. The plurality of ports include a first port, a second port, and a third port. The first port and the second port are aligned with a common axis and located on opposite sides of the valve chamber. The system further includes a valve member located within the valve chamber. The valve member is a rotatable ball having a fluid passage that extends through the ball and includes an opening at the end of the ball. The fluid passage is substantially oval-shaped when viewed at the opening in a direction parallel to the fluid passage. The valve assembly further includes a valve stem that is coupled to a valve member and has a first end that extends from the valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Bernard P. Clement, Brian D. Klarkowski, Duane S. Freimuth, Kevin A. Weiss, Russell T. Jenks, Kyle M. Bero, Nicholas P. Prato, Gary A. Romanowich
  • Publication number: 20200240665
    Abstract: A system including a valve positioned in a conduit, wherein the valve is configured to change fluid flow through the conduit. The system includes an actuator having a motor that is configured to selectively rotate the valve toward a desired valve orientation. The system is configured to receive a request for a desired valve orientation, control the motor to move the valve into the desired valve orientation, and sense a condition corresponding to a current valve orientation following movement by the motor. The system is configured to determine if the sensed condition indicates that the current valve orientation matches the desired valve orientation from the request, and, responsive to determining that the current valve orientation does not match the desired valve orientation from the request, control the motor to selectively rotate the valve in a direction to move the valve towards the desired valve orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Russell T. Jenks
  • Patent number: 10648691
    Abstract: An actuator in a HVAC system includes a housing having an interior-facing surface and an exterior-facing surface. The actuator includes magnetic field sensor(s) located within the housing and arranged adjacent to the interior-facing surface. The actuator includes a user input device retaining magnet(s) that are movable into multiple different positions along the exterior-facing surface of the housing. An actuator controller includes a magnet locator that determines a location of the magnet(s) with respect to the magnetic field sensor(s) based on data generated by the magnetic field sensor(s). The actuator controller also includes a settings generator that generates settings for the actuator based on the location of the magnet(s) determined via the magnet locator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Russell T. Jenks