Patents by Inventor Stephen T Woodworth

Stephen T Woodworth 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: 7845179
    Abstract: A system includes a compressor temperature sensor that generates a compressor discharge temperature signal corresponding to a compressor of a refrigeration system, a compressor pressure sensor that generates a compressor discharge pressure signal corresponding to the compressor, and a controller processing the signals over a predetermined time period. The processing includes calculating a discharge saturation temperature based on the compressor discharge pressure signal, calculating compressor superheat data based on the compressor discharge temperature signal and the discharge saturation temperature, accumulating the compressor superheat data over the predetermined time period, and comparing the accumulated compressor superheat data to a predetermined threshold. The controller generates an alarm indicating a compressor fault based on the comparing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Emerson Retail Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Abtar Singh, Thomas J. Matthews, Stephen T. Woodworth
  • Patent number: 7752853
    Abstract: A method for monitoring refrigerant in a refrigeration system includes sensing, a refrigerant pressure of a refrigeration system, averaging the refrigerant pressure over a time period, determining an expected pressure based on said time period, comparing the average to the expected pressure, and determining a system condition based on said comparison. The method may be executed by a controller or stored in a computer-readable medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Emerson Retail Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Abtar Singh, Thomas J. Mathews, Stephen T. Woodworth, Pawan K. Churiwal, James R. Mitchell, Ozgur Y. Gurkan
  • Patent number: 7752854
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a condenser in a refrigeration system includes calculating a thermal efficiency of the condenser based on operation of the condenser and averaging the thermal efficiency over a predetermined period. Further, the method comprises comparing the average to an efficiency threshold and generating a notification based on the comparison. The method may be executed by a controller or stored in a computer-readable medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Emerson Retail Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Abtar Singh, Stephen T. Woodworth, James R. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 7665315
    Abstract: A method of proofing a refrigeration system operating state includes monitoring a change in operating state of a refrigeration system component, determining an expected operating parameter of the refrigeration system component as a function of the change, and detecting an actual operating parameter of the refrigeration system component after the change. The method also comprises comparing the actual operating parameter to the expected operating parameter of the refrigeration component and detecting a malfunction of the refrigeration system component based on the comparison. The method may be executed by a controller or stored in a computer-readable medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Emerson Retail Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Abtar Singh, Stephen T. Woodworth, Pawan K. Churiwal
  • Patent number: 7596959
    Abstract: A method for monitoring compressor performance in a refrigeration system includes calculating an isentropic efficiency of a compressor of the refrigeration system, averaging isentropic efficiency over a predetermined period, comparing the average to an efficiency threshold, and detecting a compressor malfunction based on the comparison. The method may be executed by a controller or stored in a computer-readable medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Emerson Retail Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Abtar Singh, Thomas J. Mathews, Stephen T. Woodworth, Pawan K. Churiwal
  • Publication number: 20090077983
    Abstract: A system includes a compressor temperature sensor that generates a compressor discharge temperature signal corresponding to a compressor of a refrigeration system, a compressor pressure sensor that generates a compressor discharge pressure signal corresponding to the compressor, and a controller processing the signals over a predetermined time period. The processing includes calculating a discharge saturation temperature based on the compressor discharge pressure signal, calculating compressor superheat data based on the compressor discharge temperature signal and the discharge saturation temperature, accumulating the compressor superheat data over the predetermined time period, and comparing the accumulated compressor superheat data to a predetermined threshold. The controller generates an alarm indicating a compressor fault based on the comparing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: Emerson Retail Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Abtar Singh, Thomas J. Mathews, Stephen T. Woodworth
  • Patent number: 7490477
    Abstract: A system for monitoring a remote refrigeration system includes a plurality of sensors that monitor parameters of components of the refrigeration system and a communication network that transfers signals generated by each of the plurality of sensors. A management center receives the signals from the communication network and processes the signals to determine an operating condition of at least one of the components. The management center generates an alarm based on the operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Emerson Retail Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Abtar Singh, Thomas J Mathews, Stephen T Woodworth
  • Publication number: 20040261431
    Abstract: A system for monitoring a remote refrigeration system includes a plurality of sensors that monitor parameters of components of the refrigeration system and a communication network that transfers signals generated by each of the plurality of sensors. A management center receives the signals from the communication network and processes the signals to determine an operating condition of at least one of the components. The management center generates an alarm based on the operating condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Abtar Singh, Thomas J. Mathews, Stephen T. Woodworth