Patents by Inventor Steven E. Meloling

Steven E. Meloling 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: 11635265
    Abstract: A bolted hinge assembly is provided for a waterbox cover (a “waterbox hinge assembly”). The waterbox hinge assembly generally does not require welding on the waterbox cover or the heat exchanger in an HVAC system (“HVAC unit” hereinafter). Further, the waterbox hinge assembly may be installable to the HVAC unit without removing the heat exchange fluids (e.g., water, refrigerant, etc.) from the HVAC unit. In some cases, the waterbox hinge assembly can be installed on an HVAC unit without removing any bolts from the waterbox cover. Once installed, the waterbox hinge assembly can be left in place so that it can be reused anytime the HVAC unit is serviced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Steven E. Wolfgram, Daoud A. Jandal, Bradley S. Wickersham, Fred Eickstaedt, James M. McCool, Raymond S. Schafer, Ronald E. Schlicht, Robert A. Harris, Steven E. Meloling, Raghu Kumar, Kishore Prabakaran
  • Patent number: 11365912
    Abstract: A suction duct is disposed within a shell and tube heat exchanger. The suction duct is located relatively high and above the tube bundle so as to not entrain liquid or droplets that may be splashing and spraying upward. The suction duct is configured with an area schedule in fluid communication with a flow path inside the suction duct. The flow path is in fluid communication with an outlet of the shell. This is advantageous relative to traditional top of the shell outlets which generally have higher vertical footprints. The area schedule of the suction duct can facilitate and/or maintain relatively smooth vapor flow within the shell. The area schedule can achieve vapor flows that have some uniformity along the length of the shell, which can manage and/or avoid localized vapor flow and/or local currents, such as where high velocity may be present and where entrainment can result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Jon P. Hartfield, H. Kenneth Ring, Jr., Steven E. Meloling, Florian Weber, Alain Fleurette, Benjamin Elias Dingel
  • Publication number: 20200248937
    Abstract: A suction duct is disposed within a shell and tube heat exchanger. The suction duct is located relatively high and above the tube bundle so as to not entrain liquid or droplets that may be splashing and spraying upward. The suction duct is configured with an area schedule in fluid communication with a flow path inside the suction duct. The flow path is in fluid communication with an outlet of the shell. This is advantageous relative to traditional top of the shell outlets which generally have higher vertical footprints. The area schedule of the suction duct can facilitate and/or maintain relatively smooth vapor flow within the shell. The area schedule can achieve vapor flows that have some uniformity along the length of the shell, which can manage and/or avoid localized vapor flow and/or local currents, such as where high velocity may be present and where entrainment can result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Jon P. HARTFIELD, H. Kenneth RING, Steven E. MELOLING, Florian WEBER, Alain FLEURETTE, Benjamin Elias DINGEL
  • Patent number: 10627139
    Abstract: A suction duct is disposed within a shell and tube heat exchanger. The suction duct is located relatively high and above the tube bundle so as to not entrain liquid or droplets that may be splashing and spraying upward. The suction duct is configured with an area schedule in fluid communication with a flow path inside the suction duct. The flow path is in fluid communication with an outlet of the shell. This is advantageous relative to traditional top of the shell outlets which generally have higher vertical footprints. The area schedule of the suction duct can facilitate and/or maintain relatively smooth vapor flow within the shell. The area schedule can achieve vapor flows that have some uniformity along the length of the shell, which can manage and/or avoid localized vapor flow and/or local currents, such as where high velocity may be present and where entrainment can result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Jon P. Hartfield, H. Kenneth Ring, Jr., Steven E. Meloling, Florian Weber, Alain Fleurette, Benjamin Elias Dingel
  • Publication number: 20190170454
    Abstract: Embodiments described in this specification are generally directed to a bolted hinge assembly for a waterbox cover (a “waterbox hinge assembly”). The waterbox hinge assembly generally does not require welding on the waterbox cover or the heat exchanger in an HVAC system (“HVAC unit” hereinafter). Further, the waterbox hinge assembly may be installable to the HVAC unit without removing the heat exchange fluids (e.g., water, refrigerant, etc.) from the HVAC unit. In some embodiments, the waterbox hinge assembly can be installed on an HVAC unit without removing any bolts from the waterbox cover. Once installed, the waterbox hinge assembly can be left in place so that it can be reused anytime the HVAC unit is serviced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: Steven E. Wolfgram, Daoud A. Jandal, Bradley S. Wickersham, Fred Eickstaedt, James M. McCool, Raymond S. Schafer, Ronald E. Schlicht, Robert A. Harris, Steven E. Meloling, Raghu Kumar, Kishore Prabakaran
  • Patent number: 10203168
    Abstract: Embodiments described in this specification are generally directed to a bolted hinge assembly for a waterbox cover (a “waterbox hinge assembly”). The waterbox hinge assembly generally does not require welding on the waterbox cover or the heat exchanger in an HVAC system (“HVAC unit” hereinafter). Further, the waterbox hinge assembly may be installable to the HVAC unit without removing the heat exchange fluids (e.g., water, refrigerant, etc.) from the HVAC unit. In some embodiments, the waterbox hinge assembly can be installed on an HVAC unit without removing any bolts from the waterbox cover. Once installed, the waterbox hinge assembly can be left in place so that it can be reused anytime the HVAC unit is serviced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Steven E. Wolfgram, Daoud A. Jandal, Bradley S. Wickersham, Fred Eickstaedt, James M. McCool, Raymond S. Schafer, Ronald E. Schlicht, Robert A. Harris, Steven E. Meloling, Raghu Kumar, Kishore Prabakaran
  • Publication number: 20180299172
    Abstract: A suction duct is disposed within a shell and tube heat exchanger. The suction duct is located relatively high and above the tube bundle so as to not entrain liquid or droplets that may be splashing and spraying upward. The suction duct is configured with an area schedule in fluid communication with a flow path inside the suction duct. The flow path is in fluid communication with an outlet of the shell. This is advantageous relative to traditional top of the shell outlets which generally have higher vertical footprints. The area schedule of the suction duct can facilitate and/or maintain relatively smooth vapor flow within the shell. The area schedule can achieve vapor flows that have some uniformity along the length of the shell, which can manage and/or avoid localized vapor flow and/or local currents, such as where high velocity may be present and where entrainment can result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Jon P. HARTFIELD, H. Kenneth RING, Jr., Steven E. MELOLING, Florian WEBER, Alain FLEURETTE, Benjamin Elias DINGEL
  • Publication number: 20160363393
    Abstract: Embodiments described in this specification are generally directed to a bolted hinge assembly for a waterbox cover (a “waterbox hinge assembly”). The waterbox hinge assembly generally does not require welding on the waterbox cover or the heat exchanger in an HVAC system (“HVAC unit” hereinafter). Further, the waterbox hinge assembly may be installable to the HVAC unit without removing the heat exchange fluids (e.g., water, refrigerant, etc.) from the HVAC unit. In some embodiments, the waterbox hinge assembly can be installed on an HVAC unit without removing any bolts from the waterbox cover. Once installed, the waterbox hinge assembly can be left in place so that it can be reused anytime the HVAC unit is serviced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventors: Steven E. Wolfgram, Daoud A. Jandal, Bradley S. Wickersham, Fred Eickstaedt, James M. McCool, Raymond S. Schafer, Ronald E. Schlicht, Robert A. Harris, Steven E. Meloling, Raghu Kumar, Kishore Prabakaran
  • Patent number: 5515694
    Abstract: A single-fluid two-phase turbine expander is employed in a compression-expansion refrigeration system. The turbine has nozzles of fixed, predetermined orifice and is designed for optimal operation in steady-state normal conditions. A main float valve governs the refrigerant flow to the turbine expander. In order to accommodate off-design conditions, a bypass conduit carries liquid refrigerant around the turbine expander directly to the evaporator. In this case a bypass float valve opens the bypass conduit when the liquid level in the condenser sump reaches a predetermined high level. Alternatively, a float switch and a bypass solenoid can be employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Steven E. Meloling, Vishnu M. Sishtla
  • Patent number: 5285653
    Abstract: A float-type refrigerant control device meters the flow of saturated refrigerant liquid condensate to a subsequent stage from an outlet of a sump in a refrigerant condenser. A float in the form of a metal shell open at the bottom is slidably positioned on an upright, generally cylindrical standpipe which is mounted at the outlet of the sump. A metering sleeve situated within the standpipe is joined to the float for axial travel with the float. One or more metering slots penetrate the standpipe near its lower end, and these are uncovered by the sleeve as the float rises to permit the liquid to flow out through the sump outlet. A vapor injection duct supplies refrigerant vapor from a high pressure source to the float to keep the same replenished with vapor, thereby maintaining a positive buoyancy relative to the saturated refrigerant liquid condensate in the sump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Steven E. Meloling, Zoltan P. Mandy