Patents by Inventor Steven J. Pitts
Steven J. Pitts 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).
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Patent number: 11898571Abstract: A lubricant supply system is for a compressor that compresses a first working fluid in a heat transfer circuit. The lubricant supply system includes a lubricant tank, a lubricant pathway for supplying lubricant from the lubricant tank to one or more bearings of the compressor, and a lubricant refrigeration system with a lubricant heater and a lubricant cooler. The lubricant heater configured to heat the lubricant discharged from the one or more bearings and the lubricant cooler configured to cool the lubricant flowing through the lubricant pathway. A method of lubricating a compressor includes heating the lubricant, directing the lubricant from a lubricant tank through a lubricant pathway to one or more bearings of the compressor, and cooling the lubricant passing through the lubricant pathway.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2021Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Mark W. Harrison, Steven J. Pitts, Todd W. Smith
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Publication number: 20240018239Abstract: The present disclosure provides binding proteins, such as antibodies and antigen-binding fragments, which specifically bind to human CD200R1 receptor protein (hu-CD200R1) and are capable of decreasing, inhibiting, and/or fully-blocking immune regulatory effects mediated by hu-CD200R1. The present disclosure also provides methods of using the antibodies (and compositions thereof) to treat diseases and conditions responsive to decreasing, inhibiting and/or blocking immune regulatory function or activity mediated by CD200 binding to CD200R1.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2023Publication date: January 18, 2024Applicant: 23andMe, Inc.Inventors: Yu CHEN, Jilean Beth FENAUX, Germaine FUH-KELLY, Yao-Ming HUANG, Wei-Jen CHUNG, Erik KARRER, Cecilia LAY, Steven J. PITTS, Louise SCHARF
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Patent number: 11787861Abstract: The present disclosure provides binding proteins, such as antibodies and antigen-binding fragments, which specifically bind to human CD200R1 receptor protein (hu-CD200R1) and are capable of decreasing, inhibiting, and/or fully-blocking immune regulatory effects mediated by hu-CD200R1. The present disclosure also provides methods of using the antibodies (and compositions thereof) to treat diseases and conditions responsive to decreasing, inhibiting and/or blocking immune regulatory function or activity mediated by CD200 binding to CD200R1.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2021Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: 23andMe, Inc.Inventors: Yu Chen, Jilean Beth Fenaux, Germaine Fuh-Kelly, Yao-Ming Huang, Wei-Jen Chung, Erik Edward Karrer, Cecilia Lay, Steven J. Pitts, Louise Scharf
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Publication number: 20230213040Abstract: A lubricant supply system is for a compressor that compresses a first working fluid in a heat transfer circuit. The lubricant supply system includes a lubricant tank, a lubricant pathway for supplying lubricant from the lubricant tank to one or more bearings of the compressor, and a lubricant refrigeration system with a lubricant heater and a lubricant cooler. The lubricant heater configured to heat the lubricant discharged from the one or more bearings and the lubricant cooler configured to cool the lubricant flowing through the lubricant pathway. A method of lubricating a compressor includes heating the lubricant, directing the lubricant from a lubricant tank through a lubricant pathway to one or more bearings of the compressor, and cooling the lubricant passing through the lubricant pathway.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2021Publication date: July 6, 2023Inventors: Mark W. Harrison, Steven J. Pitts, Todd W. Smith
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Publication number: 20230134928Abstract: An electronic actuator assembly operates an in-line valve. A valve seat of the in-line valve is surrounded by a plate. The plate can include one or more openings configured to allow fluid to pass through the plate. A perimeter of the plate outside of the openings can be configured to have ends of pipes joined on either side of the plate. The in-line valve can be operated by an electronic actuator. The electronic actuator can be powered by a supply line that enters the assembly through the plate. The electronic actuator assembly can be incorporated in to a fluid circuit to serve as an expander. The electronic actuator can be located in a housing to direct flow around the electronic actuator. The electronic actuator can be installed in place of an orifice plate of an existing fluid circuit of a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, or refrigeration (HVACR) system.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2021Publication date: May 4, 2023Inventors: Lucas Duffy, Steven J. Pitts, Justin D. Piggush
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Publication number: 20210371521Abstract: The present disclosure provides binding proteins, such as antibodies and antigen-binding fragments, which specifically bind to human CD200R1 receptor protein (hu-CD200R1) and are capable of decreasing, inhibiting, and/or fully-blocking immune regulatory effects mediated by hu-CD200R1. The present disclosure also provides methods of using the antibodies (and compositions thereof) to treat diseases and conditions responsive to decreasing, inhibiting and/or blocking immune regulatory function or activity mediated by CD200 binding to CD200R1.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2021Publication date: December 2, 2021Applicant: 23andMe, Inc.Inventors: Yu CHEN, Jilean Beth FENAUX, Germaine FUH-KELLY, Yao-Ming HUANG, Wei-Jen CHUNG, Erik Edward KARRER, Cecilia LAY, Steven J. PITTS, Louise SCHARF
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Patent number: 11105544Abstract: A refrigerant circuit is disclosed. The refrigerant circuit includes a compressor, a condenser, a first expansion device, an economizer, a second expansion device, and an evaporator fluidly connected. A working fluid flows through the refrigerant circuit. A bypass segment is fluidly connected to the refrigerant circuit. A portion of the working fluid is provided from the refrigerant circuit to the bypass segment from a location in the refrigerant circuit disposed between the condenser and the evaporator with respect to flow of the working fluid. The portion of the working fluid flows through the bypass segment in a flow enabled state and is provided to a location in the refrigerant circuit disposed between the economizer and the evaporator with respect to flow of the working fluid. A vortical flow is induced at the location in the refrigerant circuit disposed between the economizer and the evaporator.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2016Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Ronald Maurice Cosby, II, Brian T. Sullivan, Steven J. Pitts, Thomas Gallant
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Publication number: 20180128527Abstract: A refrigerant circuit is disclosed. The refrigerant circuit includes a compressor, a condenser, a first expansion device, an economizer, a second expansion device, and an evaporator fluidly connected. A working fluid flows through the refrigerant circuit. A bypass segment is fluidly connected to the refrigerant circuit. A portion of the working fluid is provided from the refrigerant circuit to the bypass segment from a location in the refrigerant circuit disposed between the condenser and the evaporator with respect to flow of the working fluid. The portion of the working fluid flows through the bypass segment in a flow enabled state and is provided to a location in the refrigerant circuit disposed between the economizer and the evaporator with respect to flow of the working fluid. A vortical flow is induced at the location in the refrigerant circuit disposed between the economizer and the evaporator.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2016Publication date: May 10, 2018Inventors: Ronald Maurice Cosby, II, Brian T. Sullivan, Steven J. Pitts, Thomas Gallant
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Patent number: 8011196Abstract: A chiller includes a main condenser that has a refrigerant condensate sump with an internal weir or standpipe that maintains at least a minimum liquid seal between the outlets of the main condenser and a heat-recovery condenser. The main condenser is used for normal cooling operation, and the heat-recovery condenser is for supplying an external process with heat that would otherwise be wasted. In addition to providing a liquid seal, the sump and weir combination provides a reliable source of liquid refrigerant to cool the chiller's compressor motor and creates a trap for collecting foreign particles that might exit either of the chiller's two condensers.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2007Date of Patent: September 6, 2011Assignee: Trane International Inc.Inventors: Alan Hv Eber, Steven J. Pitts, Brian T. Sullivan
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Publication number: 20090158762Abstract: A chiller includes a main condenser that has a refrigerant condensate sump with an internal weir or standpipe that maintains at least a minimum liquid seal between the outlets of the main condenser and a heat-recovery condenser. The main condenser is used for normal cooling operation, and the heat-recovery condenser is for supplying an external process with heat that would otherwise be wasted. In addition to providing a liquid seal, the sump and weir combination provides a reliable source of liquid refrigerant to cool the chiller's compressor motor and creates a trap for collecting foreign particles that might exit either of the chiller's two condensers.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2007Publication date: June 25, 2009Inventors: Alan Hv Eber, Steven J. Pitts, Brian T. Sullivan
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Patent number: 7421855Abstract: A shell-and-tube evaporator of a refrigerant system includes a refrigerant inlet distributor that traps a pocket of gaseous refrigerant to displace liquid refrigerant underneath the evaporator's tube bundle, thereby reducing the total charge of refrigerant in the evaporator. In some embodiments, the distributor comprises four sections interconnected by a central refrigerant feed line, which properly apportions the refrigerant to the four sections.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2007Date of Patent: September 9, 2008Assignee: Trane International Inc.Inventors: H. Kenneth Ring, Kenneth J. Schultz, Steven J. Pitts, Ronald M. Cosby, II, Brian T. Sullivan
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Publication number: 20080163637Abstract: A shell-and-tube evaporator of a refrigerant system includes a refrigerant inlet distributor that traps a pocket of gaseous refrigerant to displace liquid refrigerant underneath the evaporator's tube bundle, thereby reducing the total charge of refrigerant in the evaporator. In some embodiments, the distributor comprises four sections interconnected by a central refrigerant feed line, which properly apportions the refrigerant to the four sections.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2007Publication date: July 10, 2008Inventors: H. Kenneth Ring, Kenneth J. Schultz, Steven J. Pitts, Ronald M. Cosby, Brian T. Sullivan
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Patent number: 6244058Abstract: A tube and shell evaporator operable at near freezing includes a temperature sensor that senses the temperature of chilled water discharging from one or just a few of the very coldest tubes, whereby the sensed temperature is less than the average leaving chiller water temperature (LCWT). The result provides an exceptionally low LCWT, which can be especially desirable in district cooling systems where the chilled water is usually piped a great distance.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2000Date of Patent: June 12, 2001Assignee: American Standard International Inc.Inventors: Joel S. Duga, Steven J. Pitts, John H. Roberts