Patents by Inventor Stephen C. Wilson

Stephen C. Wilson 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: 20200358264
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a fuse bank design for a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system. The disclosed stair-step design enables the positioning of electrical components of the fuse bank in a non-vertically aligned manner, which blocks the accumulation of heat in the upper electrical components as a result of convection heating from the lower components of the fuse bank during operation of the HVAC system. For example, a fuse bank is disclosed for an HVAC system that includes: a mounting surface; a first fuse block including a first fuse holder coupled to the mounting surface; a spacer coupled to the mounting surface vertically below the first fuse block; and a second fuse block including a second fuse holder coupled to the spacer, wherein the spacer offsets the second fuse block from the mounting surface of the fuse bank in a stair-step arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Inventors: Stephen C. Wilson, Norman J. Blanton
  • Publication number: 20200348087
    Abstract: A furnace of a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a heat exchange tube configured to receive a working fluid from a burner and a modulating valve fluidly coupled to the burner. The modulating valve is configured to regulate an amount of fuel supplied to the burner to generate the working fluid. The furnace also includes a blower configured to draw the working fluid through the heat exchange tube, a motor drive configured to adjust a speed of the blower, and a controller configured to adjust a position of the modulating valve and to control the motor drive to adjust the speed of the blower based on a temperature of air discharged from the HVAC system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Stephen C. Wilson, Kerry L. Shumway, William M. Harris, Randy R. Koivisto
  • Publication number: 20200300484
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system, includes a cooling circuit, a reheat circuit, and a control system. The cooling circuit includes a condenser, a compressor, an evaporator, and a multi-directional valve, and the HVAC system is configured to circulate refrigerant through the cooling circuit in a cooling operating mode. The reheat circuit includes a reheat heat exchanger, the compressor, the evaporator, and the multi-directional valve, and the HVAC system is configured to circulate refrigerant through the reheat circuit in a reheat operating mode. The control system is configured to execute a switch between the cooling operating mode and the reheat operating mode by sending a signal to the multi-directional valve to adjust from a first position to a second position, interrupting a voltage provided to the compressor at a first time, and restoring application of the voltage to the compressor at a second time that is subsequent to the first time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Norman J. Blanton, Stephen C. Wilson, Paul S. Willmus, Bradford G. Briley
  • Patent number: 10760798
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a single compressor HVAC system with hot gas reheat. The system includes a single compressor, a pair of condensers, a reheat heat exchanger, an evaporator, and an expansion device. Within the system, the refrigerant exiting the compressor is separated into two portions. In the cooling mode, the first and second portions of the refrigerant are directed from the compressor through the two condensers in parallel. In the reheat mode, the first portion of the refrigerant is directed through the first condenser, while the second portion of the refrigerant is directed through the reheat heat exchanger. The system also may include a head pressure control device that is designed to maintain the compressor discharge pressure within a desired range by adjusting the condenser fan speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Norman J. Blanton, Stephen C. Wilson, Stephen B. Pickle
  • Publication number: 20200271351
    Abstract: A discharge section of a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system, includes a first wall defining an opening configured to receive an air flow from a blower of the HVAC system, a second wall spaced apart from and disposed opposite the first wall, and a diverter baffle disposed at an oblique angle relative to the first wall and the second wall and configured to divert the air flow received through the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Stephen C. Wilson, Thomas H. Mangham, JR., Piyush R. Adhav, Sumedh J. Suryawanshi
  • Publication number: 20200208851
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a cooling circuit, a reheat circuit, a recovery circuit, and a control system. The cooling circuit includes a condenser, a compressor, an evaporator, and a three-way valve, and the HVAC system is configured to circulate refrigerant through the cooling circuit in a cooling operating mode. The reheat circuit includes a reheat heat exchanger, the compressor, the evaporator, and the three-way valve, and the HVAC system is configured to circulate refrigerant through the reheat circuit in a reheat operating mode. The recovery circuit extends between the condenser and the compressor and includes a recovery valve. The control system is configured to send a first signal to the three-way valve to switch the HVAC system between the cooling operating mode and the reheat operating mode and a second signal to the recovery valve to recover refrigerant from the cooling circuit at a subsequent time based on the first signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Norman J. Blanton, Stephen C. Wilson, Paul S. Willmus
  • Publication number: 20200116391
    Abstract: A heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a furnace having a primary heat exchanger and a secondary heat exchanger, where the primary heat exchanger and the secondary heat exchanger form a heat exchange relationship between an airflow and an exhaust gas, and where the primary heat exchanger is positioned upstream of the secondary heat exchanger, a burner configured to generate the exhaust gas, a sensor configured to monitor an ambient temperature, and a control system configured to receive feedback from the sensor, compare the feedback to a threshold, operate the furnace in a first mode when the ambient temperature exceeds the threshold, and operate the furnace in a second mode when the ambient temperature is at or below the threshold, where the furnace operates above a condensation temperature when in the second mode, such that the exhaust gas does not condense when operating in the second mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventor: Stephen C. Wilson
  • Patent number: 10584896
    Abstract: A heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) furnace includes a condensing furnace and a condensate removal system associated with the condensing furnace. The condensate removal system includes an electrolyzer having a container that may collect a condensate generated from an exhaust gas produced in the condensing furnace and an electrode disposed within the container and that may apply an electric current to the condensate to electrolyze the condensate and thereby generate condensate gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Stephen C. Wilson, John T. Knight
  • Patent number: 10502454
    Abstract: A heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a furnace having a primary heat exchanger and a secondary heat exchanger, where the primary heat exchanger and the secondary heat exchanger form a heat exchange relationship between an airflow and an exhaust gas, and where the primary heat exchanger is positioned upstream of the secondary heat exchanger, a burner configured to generate the exhaust gas, a sensor configured to monitor an ambient temperature, and a control system configured to receive feedback from the sensor, compare the feedback to a threshold, operate the furnace in a first mode when the ambient temperature exceeds the threshold, and operate the furnace in a second mode when the ambient temperature is at or below the threshold, where the furnace operates above a condensation temperature when in the second mode, such that the exhaust gas does not condense when operating in the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Stephen C. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20190292216
    Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for increasing the production of a type I interferon (IFN) in a cell. Aspects of the methods include increasing the level of a 2?-5? phosphodiester linkage comprising cyclic-di-nucleotide in a cell in a manner sufficient to increase production of the type I interferon (IFN) by the cell. Also provided are compositions and kits for practicing the embodiments of the methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Russell E. Vance, Ming C. Hammond, Dara Burdette, Elie J. Diner, Stephen C. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20190234421
    Abstract: A fan blade includes an edge formation disposed on an edge of the fan blade, where the edge formation comprises an incline surface relative to a main portion of the fan blade and a decline surface relative to the main portion of the fan blade, and wherein the incline surface and the decline surface are asymmetric to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Stephen C. Wilson, John T. Knight
  • Publication number: 20190186761
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a single compressor HVAC system with hot gas reheat. The system includes a single compressor, a pair of condensers, a reheat heat exchanger, an evaporator, and an expansion device. Within the system, the refrigerant exiting the compressor is separated into two portions. In the cooling mode, the first and second portions of the refrigerant are directed from the compressor through the two condensers in parallel. In the reheat mode, the first portion of the refrigerant is directed through the first condenser, while the second portion of the refrigerant is directed through the reheat heat exchanger. The system also may include a head pressure control device that is designed to maintain the compressor discharge pressure within a desired range by adjusting the condenser fan speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Norman J. Blanton, Stephen C. Wilson, Stephen B. Pickle
  • Patent number: 10247430
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a single compressor HVAC system with hot gas reheat. The system includes a single compressor, a pair of condensers, a reheat heat exchanger, an evaporator, and an expansion device. Within the system, the refrigerant exiting the compressor is separated into two portions. In the cooling mode, the first and second portions of the refrigerant are directed from the compressor through the two condensers in parallel. In the reheat mode, the first portion of the refrigerant is directed through the first condenser, while the second portion of the refrigerant is directed through the reheat heat exchanger. The system also may include a head pressure control device that is designed to maintain the compressor discharge pressure within a desired range by adjusting the condenser fan speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Norman J. Blanton, Stephen C. Wilson, Stephen B. Pickle
  • Patent number: 10174958
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a single compressor HVAC system with hot gas reheat. The system includes a single compressor, a pair of condensers, a reheat heat exchanger, an evaporator, and an expansion device. Within the system, the refrigerant exiting the compressor is separated into two portions. In the cooling mode, the first and second portions of the refrigerant are directed from the compressor through the two condensers in parallel. In the reheat mode, the first portion of the refrigerant is directed through the first condenser, while the second portion of the refrigerant is directed through the reheat heat exchanger. The system also may include a head pressure control device that is designed to maintain the compressor discharge pressure within a desired range by adjusting the condenser fan speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Norman J. Blanton, Stephen C. Wilson, Stephen B. Pickle
  • Patent number: 10101041
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a single compressor HVAC system with hot gas reheat. The system includes a single compressor, a pair of condensers, a reheat heat exchanger, an evaporator, and an expansion device. Within the system, the refrigerant exiting the compressor is separated into two portions. In the cooling mode, the first and second portions of the refrigerant are directed from the compressor through the two condensers in parallel. In the reheat mode, the first portion of the refrigerant is directed through the first condenser, while the second portion of the refrigerant is directed through the reheat heat exchanger. The system also may include a head pressure control device that is designed to maintain the compressor discharge pressure within a desired range by adjusting the condenser fan speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Norman J. Blanton, Stephen C. Wilson, Stephen B. Pickle
  • Patent number: 10072854
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a single compressor HVAC system with hot gas reheat. The system includes a single compressor, a pair of condensers, a reheat heat exchanger, an evaporator, and an expansion device. Within the system, the refrigerant exiting the compressor is separated into two portions. In the cooling mode, the first and second portions of the refrigerant are directed from the compressor through the two condensers in parallel. In the reheat mode, the first portion of the refrigerant is directed through the first condenser, while the second portion of the refrigerant is directed through the reheat heat exchanger. The system also may include a head pressure control device that is designed to maintain the compressor discharge pressure within a desired range by adjusting the condenser fan speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Norman J. Blanton, Stephen C. Wilson, Stephen B. Pickle
  • Publication number: 20180231260
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The HVAC system includes a sensor that detects a temperature of a heater of a heating component and emits a signal indicative of the temperature. A flow management device controls a flow of electricity or fuel from a power source to the heating component. A controller receives the signal from the sensor and operates the flow management device to block the flow of electricity or fuel to the heating component when the signal is indicative of the temperature being above a set point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventor: Stephen C. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20180231293
    Abstract: A vapor compression system that includes a reheat coil that heats a supply air stream flowing across the reheat coil with a refrigerant. A fan forces an environmental air flow across a condenser to remove energy from the refrigerant. A controller adjusts a speed of the fan to control a flow of the refrigerant through the reheat coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Norman J. Blanton, Stephen C. Wilson, Curtis W. Caskey
  • Publication number: 20180031275
    Abstract: A heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) furnace includes a condensing furnace and a condensate removal system associated with the condensing furnace. The condensate removal system includes an electrolyzer having a container that may collect a condensate generated from an exhaust gas produced in the condensing furnace and an electrode disposed within the container and that may apply an electric current to the condensate to electrolyze the condensate and thereby generate condensate gases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Stephen C. Wilson, John T. Knight
  • Publication number: 20180031274
    Abstract: A furnace system includes a burner assembly that includes a burner configured to produce a flame and a heat exchanger that includes a plurality of tube passes. The plurality of tube passes cooperatively forms a conduit for flowing combustion products generated by the burner assembly. Each tube pass of the plurality of tube passes overlaps with other tube passes of the plurality of tube passes. A first tube pass of the plurality of tube passes is configured to receive the flame, and the first tube pass includes a first plurality of surface enhancements extending radially outward from an outer surface of the first tube pass relative to a central axis of the first tube pass. The furnace system also includes a baffle that is coupled to the burner assembly, extends toward the first tube pass, and is configured to contact the flame and the first tube pass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Stephen C. Wilson, David C. Rimmer, Raul G. Guajardo