Patents by Inventor Todd Kreft

Todd Kreft 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).

  • Publication number: 20120283880
    Abstract: Methods for controlling an economizer of an HVAC system are disclosed. An illustrative control method may include positioning one or more controllable dampers in first and second configurations such that a mixed air stream has first and second mixing ratios of incoming outside air to return air. First and second measures related to the temperature of the mixed air stream may be recorded when the dampers are in each of the first and second configurations. Based on the recorded first and second measures, it may be determined whether and/or how much of the incoming outside air to admit into the economizer via the one or more controllable dampers during subsequent operation of the HVAC system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Todd Kreft, Cory Grabinger, Scott McMillan, Paul Wacker
  • Patent number: 8195335
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for controlling an economizer of an HVAC system. The economizer has an outside air stream of incoming outside air, a return air stream of return air, and a mixed air stream of mixed incoming outside air and return air that is provided to the cooling unit of the HVAC system. The economizer also includes one or more controllable dampers for controlling a mixing ratio of incoming outside air to return air in the mixed air stream. The control method includes positioning the one or more controllable dampers in first and second configurations such that the mixed air stream has first and second mixing ratios of incoming outside air to return air in the mixed air stream. The method also includes recording first and second measures related to the temperature of the mixed air stream when the dampers are in each of the first and second configurations. First and second measures related to other parameters of the mixed air stream may be recorded as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Kreft, Cory Grabinger, Scott McMillan, Paul Wacker
  • Publication number: 20120079425
    Abstract: An economizer controller system having a plug and play recognition approach with an automatic user interface population mechanism. A check may be made for sensors connected to the controller. The control type of the sensors may be determined. The menu structure may be repopulated based on the control type. The user interface may then be updated. This approach may be repeated as needed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Cory Grabinger, Miroslav Mikulica, Todd Kreft, Adrienne Thomle
  • Patent number: 8066558
    Abstract: Demand ventilation protocols can address the issue of sensor failure while still providing desirable levels of energy conservation. An occupancy indicator such as a sensor can be monitored. If the sensor reading is determined to be incorrect, unexpected or otherwise erroneous, the ventilation system can provide an amount of fresh air sufficient for adequate ventilation without over-ventilating the building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Adrienne G. Thomle, Todd Kreft
  • Publication number: 20110264274
    Abstract: A method and system for operating a demand control ventilation system with a multi-speed fan is disclosed. The control system may modulate the fan speed of a multi-speed fan and/or the position of a ventilation damper in order to achieve desired ventilation levels for a building.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Cory Grabinger, Paul Wacker, Todd Kreft, Adrienne Thomle
  • Publication number: 20110264280
    Abstract: Methods and systems for automatically calibrating one or more damper positions of a demand control ventilation system are disclosed. In one illustrative embodiment, a demand control ventilation system includes a damper for controlling a flow of outside air into a building. A controller may be programmed to automatically execute a calibration algorithm from time to time to calibrate one or more calibration damper positions such that a predetermined flow of outside air is drawn through the damper and into the building at each of the one or more calibration damper positions. This calibration can, in some instances, help increase the efficiency and/or utility of the demand control ventilation system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Cory Grabinger, Paul Wacker, Todd Kreft, Scott McMillan, Adrienne Thomle
  • Publication number: 20110264275
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a Demand Control Ventilation (DCV) and/or Economizer system that is capable of drawing outside air into an HVAC air stream. In some instances, the DCV and/or Economizer system may be configured to help perform one or more system checks to help verify that the system is functioning properly. In some instances, the DCV and/or Economizer system may provide some level of manual control over certain hardware (e.g. dampers) to help commission the system. The DCV and/or Economizer system may store one or more settings and or parameters used during the commissioning process (either in the factory or in the field), so that these settings and/or parameters may be later accessed to verify that the DCV and/or Economizer system was commissioned and commissioned properly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Adrienne Thomle, Todd Kreft, Mark Bokusky
  • Publication number: 20110168793
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for operating an HVAC system for conditioning air of an inside space. The HVAC system has an economizer configured to control the intake of outside air into an HVAC air stream of the HVAC system. The method includes determining at least two parameters of the air of the inside space, where the at least two parameters are selected from a set of parameters from which an inside air dry bulb temperature, an inside air dew point, an inside air relative humidity, and an inside air enthalpy can be determined, either directly or indirectly. The method also includes determining at least two parameters of the outside air, where the at least two parameters being selected from a set of parameters from which an outside air dry bulb temperature, an outside air dew point, and an outside air enthalpy can be determined, either directly or indirectly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Kreft, Adrienne Thomle, Cory Grabinger, Paul Wacker
  • Publication number: 20110172831
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for controlling an economizer of an HVAC system. The economizer has an outside air stream of incoming outside air, a return air stream of return air, and a mixed air stream of mixed incoming outside air and return air that is provided to the cooling unit of the HVAC system. The economizer also includes one or more controllable dampers for controlling a mixing ratio of incoming outside air to return air in the mixed air stream. The control method includes positioning the one or more controllable dampers in first and second configurations such that the mixed air stream has first and second mixing ratios of incoming outside air to return air in the mixed air stream. The method also includes recording first and second measures related to the temperature of the mixed air stream when the dampers are in each of the first and second configurations. First and second measures related to other parameters of the mixed air stream may be recorded as well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Kreft, Cory Grabinger, Scott McMillan, Paul Wacker
  • Publication number: 20060107670
    Abstract: Demand ventilation protocols can address the issue of sensor failure while still providing desirable levels of energy conservation. An occupancy indicator such as a sensor can be monitored. If the sensor reading is determined to be incorrect, unexpected or otherwise erroneous, the ventilation system can provide an amount of fresh air sufficient for adequate ventilation without over-ventilating the building.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Publication date: May 25, 2006
    Inventors: Adrienne Thomle, Todd Kreft