Patents by Inventor Stephen Harold Smith

Stephen Harold Smith 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).

  • Economized refrigeration system
    Patent number: 9746218
    Abstract: An economized refrigeration system includes a main refrigerant circuit having a condenser, an evaporator, an economizer, an expansion device intermediate the condenser and the economizer, and a main compressor fluidly connected by a main refrigerant line. The system also includes an economized refrigerant circuit including an auxiliary compressor system and an auxiliary refrigerant line fluidly connecting the economizer to the auxiliary compressor system and fluidly connecting the main refrigerant line to the auxiliary compressor at a location intermediate the main compressor system and the condenser. The auxiliary compressor system is independently controllable with respect to the main compressor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Steven Trent Sommer, Stephen Harold Smith, John Francis Judge
  • Application of a switched reluctance motion control system in a chiller system
    Patent number: 7439702
    Abstract: A chiller system includes a switched reluctance motor for powering the compressor of the chiller system. A variable speed drive with a boost converter provides a boosted voltage to the switched reluctance motor. The switched reluctance motor and the compressor may be disposed within the same hermetic enclosure and driven by a common drive shaft. Cooling for both the variable speed drive and the switched reluctance motor is provided from condenser water in the condenser water circuit, or from an intermediate liquid cooled by water from the condenser circuit to increase system efficiency. Windage losses are reduced by barriers introduced within the motor, and by maintaining a reduced pressure in the switched reluctance motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: York International Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Harold Smith, Harold Robert Schnetzka, Ivan Jadric
  • ECONOMIZED REFRIGERATION SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20080098754
    Abstract: An economized refrigeration system includes a main refrigerant circuit having a condenser, an evaporator, an economizer, an expansion device intermediate the condenser and the economizer, and a main compressor fluidly connected by a main refrigerant line. The system also includes an economized refrigerant circuit including an auxiliary compressor system and an auxiliary refrigerant line fluidly connecting the economizer to the auxiliary compressor system and fluidly connecting the main refrigerant line to the auxiliary compressor at a location intermediate the main compressor system and the condenser. The auxiliary compressor system is independently controllable with respect to the main compressor system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicant: JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
    Inventors: Steven Trent Sommer, Stephen Harold Smith, John Francis Judge
  • Variable speed drive for a chiller system with a switched reluctance motor
    Patent number: 7202626
    Abstract: A variable speed drive with a boost converter is provided for a chiller system driven by a switched reluctance motor. The boost converter can be a diode or thyristor rectifier followed by a boost DC/DC converter or a three-phase pulse width modulated boost converter. The boost converter provides a boosted voltage to the DC link, which results in a boosted voltage being applied to the switched reluctance motor by the inverter of the variable speed drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: York International Corporation
    Inventors: Ivan Jadric, Harold Robert Schnetzka, Stephen Harold Smith
  • Counterflow evaporator for refrigerants
    Patent number: 6530421
    Abstract: A counterflow evaporator for refrigerants, in particular for zeotropic refrigerants, where elongated inner members are inserted in the elongated tubular members of the evaporator to form an annular passage through which the refrigerant can flow. Resilient support members maintain the elongated inner members in position within the elongated tubular members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: York International Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald Henry Filius, Stephen Harold Smith
  • Counterflow evaporator for refrigerants
    Patent number: 6092589
    Abstract: A counterflow evaporator for refrigerants, in particular for zeotropic refrigerants, where elongated inner members are inserted in the elongated tubular members of the evaporator to form an annular passage through which the refrigerant can flow. Resilient support members maintain the elongated inner members in position within the elongated tubular members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: York International Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald Henry Filius, Stephen Harold Smith