Patents by Inventor Thomas Gort

Thomas Gort 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: 11906175
    Abstract: Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a control system for controlling an HVAC device where the control system includes a temperature sensor that provides a signal indicative of a temperature associated with the HVAC device, an orientation sensor that provides a signal indicative of an operating orientation of the HVAC device, and control circuitry that receives the temperature signal and the orientation signal from the orientation sensor. The control circuitry selects an operating thermal control set point from a plurality of stored thermal control set points based at least in part on an orientation signal, determines a temperature sensor input based on the temperature signal and compares the temperature sensor input to the operating thermal control set point, and operates the HVAC device based at least in part on that comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventors: Neal Harrington, Thomas Gort, James R. M. Neal
  • Publication number: 20230408142
    Abstract: Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to improved HVAC devices and kits for HVAC devices that improve the sound attenuation associated with the device, particularly low-frequency noise. An example embodiment includes an improved furnace including a housing with a combustion air chamber, a heat exchanger chamber, and a circulation blower chamber, wherein the combustion air chamber comprises a burner assembly and a combustion air fan, the furnace also includes a sound attenuation layer including a first acoustic metamaterial layer coupled to the combustion air chamber and tuned to attenuate sound for a first frequency band, one or more housing openings fluidly connecting the combustion air chamber to an environment outside the housing, wherein the sound attenuation layer includes a discontinuous section that aligns with one or more of the housing openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Yogesh Pandit, Richard L. Jameson, Zubin Varghese, John Bailey, Lance Lindenburg, Thomas Gort, Shiva Prasad Keralapura Basavaraju, Kevin Joseph Ligi, Chris Fuller, Curtis Mitchell
  • Patent number: 11725846
    Abstract: Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to improved HVAC devices and kits for HVAC devices that improve the sound attenuation associated with the device, particularly low-frequency noise. An example embodiment includes an improved furnace including a housing with a combustion air chamber, a heat exchanger chamber, and a circulation blower chamber, wherein the combustion air chamber comprises a burner assembly and a combustion air fan, the furnace also includes a sound attenuation layer including a first acoustic metamaterial layer coupled to the combustion air chamber and tuned to attenuate sound for a first frequency band, one or more housing openings fluidly connecting the combustion air chamber to an environment outside the housing, wherein the sound attenuation layer includes a discontinuous section that aligns with one or more of the housing openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventors: Yogesh Pandit, Richard L. Jameson, Zubin Varghese, John Bailey, Lance Lindenberg, Thomas Gort, Shiva Prasad Keralapura Basavaraju, Kevin Joseph Ligi
  • Publication number: 20230213240
    Abstract: Methods and related systems for operating a furnace are disclosed. In an embodiment, the method includes activating a burner assembly and a first fan of the furnace to combust fuel and air and circulate combustion gases along a flow path extending through a heat exchanger of the furnace. In addition, the method includes operating a second fan of the furnace to circulate air across an external surface of the heat exchanger of the furnace and produce a conditioned airflow. Further, the method includes monitoring one or more parameters of a motor of the second fan indicative of an airflow rate of the conditioned airflow, and deactivating the burner assembly, whereby combustion of the fuel and air in the furnace ceases, in response to the one or more parameters indicating that the airflow rate is less than a minimum airflow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2023
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: James R.M. Neal, Thomas Gort, Wayne N. Kraft, Sandeep Gowdagiri, Neal Harrington, David Williams, JR.
  • Publication number: 20230129818
    Abstract: Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a control system for controlling an HVAC device where the control system includes a temperature sensor that provides a signal indicative of a temperature associated with the HVAC device, an orientation sensor that provides a signal indicative of an operating orientation of the HVAC device, and control circuitry that receives the temperature signal and the orientation signal from the orientation sensor. The control circuitry selects an operating thermal control set point from a plurality of stored thermal control set points based at least in part on an orientation signal, determines a temperature sensor input based on the temperature signal and compares the temperature sensor input to the operating thermal control set point, and operates the HVAC device based at least in part on that comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: Neal Harrington, Thomas Gort, James R.M. Neal
  • Patent number: 11624529
    Abstract: Methods and related systems for operating a furnace are disclosed. In an embodiment, the method includes activating a burner assembly and a first fan of the furnace to combust fuel and air and circulate combustion gases along a flow path extending through a heat exchanger of the furnace. In addition, the method includes operating a second fan of the furnace to circulate air across an external surface of the heat exchanger of the furnace and produce a conditioned airflow. Further, the method includes monitoring one or more parameters of a motor of the second fan indicative of an airflow rate of the conditioned airflow, and deactivating the burner assembly, whereby combustion of the fuel and air in the furnace ceases, in response to the one or more parameters indicating that the airflow rate is less than a minimum airflow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventors: James R. M. Neal, Thomas Gort, Wayne N. Kraft, Sandeep Gowdagiri, Neal Harrington, David Williams, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11585543
    Abstract: Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a control system for controlling an HVAC device where the control system includes a temperature sensor that provides a signal indicative of a temperature associated with the HVAC device, an orientation sensor that provides a signal indicative of an operating orientation of the HVAC device, and control circuitry that receives the temperature signal and the orientation signal from the orientation sensor. The control circuitry selects an operating thermal control set point from a plurality of stored thermal control set points based at least in part on an orientation signal, determines a temperature sensor input based on the temperature signal and compares the temperature sensor input to the operating thermal control set point, and operates the HVAC device based at least in part on that comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventors: Neal Harrington, Thomas Gort, James R. M. Neal
  • Publication number: 20220316756
    Abstract: Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to improved HVAC devices and kits for HVAC devices that improve the sound attenuation associated with the device, particularly low-frequency noise. An example embodiment includes an improved furnace including a housing with a combustion air chamber, a heat exchanger chamber, and a circulation blower chamber, wherein the combustion air chamber comprises a burner assembly and a combustion air fan, the furnace also includes a sound attenuation layer including a first acoustic metamaterial layer coupled to the combustion air chamber and tuned to attenuate sound for a first frequency band, one or more housing openings fluidly connecting the combustion air chamber to an environment outside the housing, wherein the sound attenuation layer includes a discontinuous section that aligns with one or more of the housing openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Yogesh Pandit, Richard L. Jameson, Zubin Varghese, John Bailey, Lance Lindenberg, Thomas Gort, Shiva Prasad Keralapura Basavaraju, Chris Fuller, Curtis Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20220205648
    Abstract: Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a control system for controlling an HVAC device where the control system includes a temperature sensor that provides a signal indicative of a temperature associated with the HVAC device, an orientation sensor that provides a signal indicative of an operating orientation of the HVAC device, and control circuitry that receives the temperature signal and the orientation signal from the orientation sensor. The control circuitry selects an operating thermal control set point from a plurality of stored thermal control set points based at least in part on an orientation signal, determines a temperature sensor input based on the temperature signal and compares the temperature sensor input to the operating thermal control set point, and operates the HVAC device based at least in part on that comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Neal Harrington, Thomas Gort, James R. M. Neal
  • Publication number: 20220011018
    Abstract: Methods and related systems for operating a furnace are disclosed. In an embodiment, the method includes activating a burner assembly and a first fan of the furnace to combust fuel and air and circulate combustion gases along a flow path extending through a heat exchanger of the furnace. In addition, the method includes operating a second fan of the furnace to circulate air across an external surface of the heat exchanger of the furnace and produce a conditioned airflow. Further, the method includes monitoring one or more parameters of a motor of the second fan indicative of an airflow rate of the conditioned airflow, and deactivating the burner assembly, whereby combustion of the fuel and air in the furnace ceases, in response to the one or more parameters indicating that the airflow rate is less than a minimum airflow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: James R.M. Neal, Thomas Gort, Wayne N. Kraft, Sandeep Gowdagiri, Neal Harrington, David Williams, JR.
  • Patent number: 11125465
    Abstract: A furnace is disclosed. The furnace may include an enclosure having a vertical support column formed by a heat exchanger compartment panel and a blower compartment panel. The furnace may include a window assembly having venting openings hidden by a viewing window. The furnace may also include a rail to support a removable heat exchanger system. The furnace may further include a wire retaining fin assembly to retain a wire. A heat exchanger header design including features to retain a sealant is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Hamilton Hanks, Nathan Wagers, Thomas Gort
  • Patent number: 11015837
    Abstract: Embodiments relate generally to mounting components of a furnace. A mounting assembly may include brackets attached to a burner box of the furnace. Each bracket includes an opening configured to receive a gas line, a recess configured to receive a gas supply valve, a pressure transducer aperture configured to receive a pressure transducer, and slots adjacent to the pressure transducer aperture. The slots are configured to secure the pressure transducer to the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Hamilton Hanks, Thomas Gort, Joshua Brian Coley
  • Publication number: 20200370787
    Abstract: Embodiments relate generally to mounting components of a furnace. A mounting assembly may include brackets attached to a burner box of the furnace. Each bracket includes an opening configured to receive a gas line, a recess configured to receive a gas supply valve, a pressure transducer aperture configured to receive a pressure transducer, and slots adjacent to the pressure transducer aperture. The slots are configured to secure the pressure transducer to the bracket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Andrew Hamilton Hanks, Thomas Gort, Joshua Brian Coley
  • Patent number: 10782017
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to flame shapers for use in gas burners, gas burner systems, and methods for operating gas burner systems. Flame shaper embodiments include an opening having an unobstructed center, and turning vanes that extend from the perimeter of the opening towards its center. The turning vanes are configured to induce swirling in an ignited flame. Burner systems include an ignition source, the flame shaper, and a heat exchanger. In method embodiments, a flame is formed by igniting fuel and air, the flame is directed through the flame shaper, and the flame is then directed into a heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Gort, Stephen Stewart Hancock, Wayne N. Kraft
  • Publication number: 20190353398
    Abstract: A furnace is disclosed. The furnace may include an enclosure having a vertical support column formed by a heat exchanger compartment panel and a blower compartment panel. The furnace may include a window assembly having venting openings hidden by a viewing window. The furnace may also include a rail to support a removable heat exchanger system. The furnace may further include a wire retaining fin assembly to retain a wire. A heat exchanger header design including features to retain a sealant is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventors: Andrew Hamilton Hanks, Nathan Wagers, Thomas Gort
  • Publication number: 20190323708
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to flame shapers for use in gas burners, gas burner systems, and methods for operating gas burner systems. Flame shaper embodiments include an opening having an unobstructed center, and turning vanes that extend from the perimeter of the opening towards its center. The turning vanes are configured to induce swirling in an ignited flame. Burner systems include an ignition source, the flame shaper, and a heat exchanger. In method embodiments, a flame is formed by igniting fuel and air, the flame is directed through the flame shaper, and the flame is then directed into a heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas Gort, Stephen Stewart Hancock, Wayne N. Kraft
  • Patent number: 10371412
    Abstract: A furnace is disclosed. The furnace may include an enclosure having a vertical support column formed by a heat exchanger compartment panel and a blower compartment panel. The furnace may include a window assembly having venting openings hidden by a viewing window. The furnace may also include a rail to support a removable heat exchanger system. The furnace may further include a wire retaining fin assembly to retain a wire. A heat exchanger header design including features to retain a sealant is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Hamilton Hanks, Nathan Wagers, Thomas Gort
  • Publication number: 20180259221
    Abstract: A furnace is disclosed. The furnace may include an enclosure having a vertical support column formed by a heat exchanger compartment panel and a blower compartment panel. The furnace may include a window assembly having venting openings hidden by a viewing window. The furnace may also include a rail to support a removable heat exchanger system. The furnace may further include a wire retaining fin assembly to retain a wire. A heat exchanger header design including features to retain a sealant is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Andrew Hamilton Hanks, Nathan Wagers, Thomas Gort
  • Patent number: 10006661
    Abstract: A furnace is disclosed. The furnace may include an enclosure having a vertical support column formed by a heat exchanger compartment panel and a blower compartment panel. The furnace may include a window assembly having venting openings hidden by a viewing window. The furnace may also include a rail to support a removable heat exchanger system. The furnace may further include a wire retaining fin assembly to retain a wire. A heat exchanger header design including features to retain a sealant is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Hamilton Hanks, Nathan Wagers, Thomas Gort
  • Publication number: 20160131396
    Abstract: A furnace is disclosed. The furnace may include an enclosure having a vertical support column formed by a heat exchanger compartment panel and a blower compartment panel. The furnace may include a window assembly having venting openings hidden by a viewing window. The furnace may also include a rail to support a removable heat exchanger system. The furnace may further include a wire retaining fin assembly to retain a wire. A heat exchanger header design including features to retain a sealant is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventors: Andrew Hamilton Hanks, Nathan Wagers, Thomas Gort