Patents by Inventor William Turner Thornton

William Turner Thornton 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).

  • Motor cooling return through hollow shaft
    Patent number: 11713909
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a compressor having a shaft, wherein the shaft is hollow to define a fluid passage extending along the shaft and a motor arranged along the shaft. A motor cooling line is configured to convey a cooling fluid to the motor, wherein the motor cooling line is fluidly connected to the fluid passage. The compressor may be a refrigerant compressor used in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) chiller system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Inventor: William Turner Thornton
  • MOTOR COOLING RETURN THROUGH HOLLOW SHAFT
    Publication number: 20220178593
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a compressor having a shaft, wherein the shaft is hollow to define a fluid passage extending along the shaft and a motor arranged along the shaft. A motor cooling line is configured to convey a cooling fluid to the motor, wherein the motor cooling line is fluidly connected to the fluid passage. The compressor may be a refrigerant compressor used in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) chiller system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventor: William Turner Thornton
  • Refrigerant cooling for variable speed drive
    Patent number: 10830509
    Abstract: An example refrigerant system according to an exemplary aspect of this disclosure includes, among other things, a refrigerant loop having at least a condenser, an evaporator, and a compressor. The compressor includes a motor in communication with a variable speed drive. The system further includes a cooling circuit including a pressure regulator downstream of a heat exchanger, the heat exchanger absorbing heat from the variable speed drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: DANFOSS A/S
    Inventors: William Turner Thornton, Mogens Rasmussen, Lin Sun
  • Control system and method for centrifugal compressor
    Patent number: 10557473
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a control system and method for the centrifugal compressor. The system, for example, includes a controller configured command an adjustment of at least one of (1) a flow regulator and (2) a speed of a shaft in order to provide safe, efficient compressor operation. Centrifugal compressors are used to circulate refrigerant in a chiller via a refrigerant loop. Centrifugal compressors operate efficiently before reaching a condition known as surge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: DANFOSS A/S
    Inventors: William Turner Thornton, Lin Sun
  • Compressor with rotor cooling passageway
    Patent number: 10036582
    Abstract: A centrifugal compressor for a refrigeration system is disclosed. The centrifugal compressor includes an electric motor, which includes a rotor and a stator. The compressor further includes a housing enclosing the electric motor, a stator cooling passage provided within the housing, and a rotor cooling passageway provided within the housing. The rotor cooling passageway is independent of the stator cooling passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: DANFOSS A/S
    Inventors: William Turner Thornton, Joost Brasz
  • REFRIGERANT COOLING FOR VARIABLE SPEED DRIVE
    Publication number: 20170131006
    Abstract: An example refrigerant system according to an exemplary aspect of this disclosure includes, among other things, a refrigerant loop having at least a condenser, an evaporator, and a compressor. The compressor includes a motor in communication with a variable speed drive. The system further includes a cooling circuit including a pressure regulator downstream of a heat exchanger, the heat exchanger absorbing heat from the variable speed drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: William Turner Thornton, Mogens Rasmussen, Lin Sun
  • CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CENTRIFUGAL COMPRESSOR
    Publication number: 20170074275
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a control system and method for the centrifugal compressor. The system, for example, includes a controller configured command an adjustment of at least one of (1) a flow regulator and (2) a speed of a shaft in order to provide safe, efficient compressor operation. Centrifugal compressors are used to circulate refrigerant in a chiller via a refrigerant loop. Centrifugal compressors operate efficiently before reaching a condition known as surge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: William Turner Thornton, Lin Sun
  • COMPRESSOR WITH ROTOR COOLING PASSAGEWAY
    Publication number: 20160138841
    Abstract: A centrifugal compressor for a refrigeration system is disclosed. The centrifugal compressor includes an electric motor, which includes a rotor and a stator. The compressor further includes a housing enclosing the electric motor, a stator cooling passage provided within the housing, and a rotor cooling passageway provided within the housing. The rotor cooling passageway is independent of the stator cooling passageway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: William Turner Thornton, Joost Brasz