Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090102073 | WATER DISTRIBUTION TRAY - A water distribution tray having an improvement comprising a first downwardly inclined surface therein commencing at a base of a water impingement pedestal within a first of a plurality of channels and ending at a corresponding first of a plurality of discharge apertures, wherein the first downwardly inclined surface has a first declension angle associated therewith, and a second downwardly inclined surface commencing at the base within a second of the plurality of channels and ending at a corresponding second of the plurality of discharge apertures, wherein the second downwardly inclined surface has a second declension angle associated therewith different from the first declension angle. A method of manufacturing is also provided. | 04-23-2009 |
20100034677 | DUAL-POWERED AIRFLOW GENERATOR - A dual-powered airflow generator comprising: a primary fan motor powered from a primary power source and an auxiliary fan motor powered from a secondary power source. In one embodiment, the primary fan motor has a first drive shaft wherein operation of the primary fan motor causes a desired airflow at a design power of the primary power source. In a preferred embodiment, the auxiliary fan motor is powered from a secondary power source and has a second drive shaft mechanically coupled to the primary fan motor, wherein the auxiliary fan motor is configured to assist the primary fan motor in causing the desired airflow while the primary fan motor operates from the primary power source at a reduced power. In a preferred embodiment, the auxiliary fan motor is powered by a solar power generating device or other alternative energy source. | 02-11-2010 |
20100127572 | UTILITY-INTERACTIVE INVERTER SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE AND METHOD OF OPERATION THEREOF - Electrically powered equipment and a method of powering the equipment. In one embodiment, the equipment includes: (1) an electric power consuming apparatus, (2) a mains input coupled to the apparatus and configured to be coupled to a branch circuit extending from a distribution panel and allow electric power from the branch circuit to flow to the apparatus and (3) a grid-tied power source input at least intermittently couplable to the mains input and configured to receive electric power from at least one premises power source and allow the electric power to flow to the apparatus or the distribution panel. In a more specific embodiment, the equipment is an outdoor unit. | 05-27-2010 |
20110176257 | PREMISES POWER SOURCE ACCESSORY PANEL FOR AN OUTDOOR UNIT AND METHOD OF ADAPTING AN OUTDOOR UNIT WITH THE SAME - A premises power source accessory panel for an outdoor unit, a method of adapting an outdoor unit with a premises power source accessory panel and an outdoor unit incorporating the panel or the method. In one embodiment, the panel includes: (1) a bracket having at least one electrical conduit aperture and (2) a circuit protection element mounted to the bracket and configured to be coupled to a premises power source, the bracket removably couplable to the outdoor unit in lieu of a conventional electrical conduit panel. | 07-21-2011 |
20110193246 | WATER DISTRIBUTION TRAY - A water distribution tray having an improvement comprising a first downwardly inclined surface therein commencing at a base of a water impingement pedestal within a first of a plurality of channels and ending at a corresponding first of a plurality of discharge apertures, wherein the first downwardly inclined surface has a first declension angle associated therewith, and a second downwardly inclined surface commencing at the base within a second of the plurality of channels and ending at a corresponding second of the plurality of discharge apertures, wherein the second downwardly inclined surface has a second declension angle associated therewith different from the first declension angle. A method of manufacturing is also provided. | 08-11-2011 |
20130090935 | DISTRIBUTED RENEWABLE ENERGY METERING - A distributed renewable energy system includes a renewable energy generating module having an array of renewable energy generators connected to a population of distributed power inverters. The distributed renewable energy system also includes a distributed energy metering module having a data aggregating unit that receives output energy data from the population of distributed power inverters and a data processing unit that calculates a revenue grade output energy from the output energy data based on a tolerance probability characteristic of the output energy data. The distributed renewable energy system additionally includes a distributed energy reporting module that reports the revenue grade output energy. A method of measuring distributed renewable energy is also provided. | 04-11-2013 |
20130125574 | DEHUMIDIFER HAVING SPLIT CONDENSER CONFIGURATION - One aspect provides a dehumidifier that has a dehumidifying circuit and includes an evaporator, a first portion of a condensing circuit, and a first blower configured to direct a first air stream along a first flow path and through the evaporator and the first portion of the condensing circuit, for reducing the humidity of the first air stream. The dehumidifier also comprises a heat removing circuit, comprising a second blower configured to direct a second air stream along a second flow path and through a second portion of the condensing circuit for removing heat from the second portion of the condensing circuit. The first and second condensing circuits are fluidly coupled. | 05-23-2013 |
20140104760 | PREMISES POWER SOURCE ACCESSORY PANEL FOR AN OUTDOOR UNIT AND METHOD OF ADAPTING AN OUTDOOR UNIT WITH THE SAME - An outdoor unit of an HVAC system comprises a frame, at least one refrigerant coil mounted to the frame, a fan motor, a compressor, a controller, and a premises power source accessory panel. The fan motor is coupled to a fan which drives air through the refrigerant coil. The compressor is coupled to the refrigerant coil to drive refrigerant therethrough. The controller is coupled to the fan motor and compressor. The premises power source accessory panel is removably coupled to the frame and includes a bracket and circuit protection element. The bracket has at least one electrical conduit aperture. The circuit protection element is mounted to the bracket and coupleable to a premises power source. The premises power source is a renewable-energy power source located on a premises of the HVAC system. The bracket is removably coupleable to the outdoor unit in lieu of a conventional electrical conduit panel. | 04-17-2014 |
20150219376 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REFRIGERANT CHARGE DETECTION - Systems and methods are disclosed for detecting a refrigerant charge in a cooling system. The systems and methods involve performing at least a partial pump down of the refrigerant while monitoring one or more metrics. The measured metrics may be compared to a standard in order to determine if a refrigerant leak has occurred or to determine other refrigerant information. Other systems and methods are disclosed. | 08-06-2015 |
20150219382 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR BALANCING AN HVAC SYSTEM - Systems and methods are disclosed that involve balancing conditioned air delivered to a plurality of zones based on temperature-time profiles for each of the plurality of zones. Wireless temperature sensors may be used to send temperature data to a processing unit to develop the plurality of temperature-time profiles. The temperature-time profiles are analyzed to identify any outliers requiring adjustment of conditioned air to a zone. Adjustments to balance the conditioned air may be made manually or automatically. Other systems and methods are disclosed. | 08-06-2015 |
20150276271 | REVERSIBLE HEAT PUMP WITH CYCLE ENCHANCEMENTS - A cycle enhancement apparatus is provided. The apparatus has a first side entrance line and exit line, both connected to a first side of a refrigerant line, and a second side entrance line and exit line, both connected to a second side of the refrigerant line. One-way valves prevent flow through the first side entrance line toward the first side, through the first side exit line away from the first side, through the second side entrance line toward the second side, and through the second side exit line away from the second side. The apparatus has a cycle enhancement line. The cycle enhancement line has an entrance portion, connected to the first side entrance line and the second side entrance line, an exit portion, connected to the first side exit line and the second side exit line, and a cycle enhancement between the entrance portion and the exit portion. | 10-01-2015 |
20150377532 | Active Refrigerant Charge Compensation for Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems - A variable refrigerant charge refrigeration/air conditioner system is described that allows the refrigerant charge for the system to be altered based on operating or environmental factors. The system includes a main refrigerant loop holding a volume of refrigerant corresponding to a first level of refrigerant charge, a compressor in the main refrigerant loop, a condenser in the main refrigerant loop, and an evaporator in the main refrigerant loop. A branch refrigerant loop allows the alteration of the refrigerant charge using a control valve in the branch refrigerant loop and a receiver in the branch refrigerant loop. The receiver acts to hold a volume of refrigerant when the control valve is open, thereby removing the volume of refrigerant from the main refrigerant loop. A return path from the receiver to the main refrigerant loop allows refrigerant to flow back into the main loop from the receiver. | 12-31-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140116068 | Auxiliary Heat Exchangers - An auxiliary heat exchanger may reduce a temperature of a refrigerant allowed to pass through the auxiliary heat exchanger. The operation of the auxiliary heat exchanger may be controlled. In some implementations, the auxiliary heat exchangers may include fluid retention members, thermoelectric coolers, and/or other types of heat exchangers. | 05-01-2014 |
20140150478 | Ice Sensor For a Heat Pump - In various implementations, an ice sensor may include heater(s), ice accumulation surface(s), and/or temperature sensor(s). During operation, heat from a heater may be provided to an ice accumulation surface and a temperature sensor(s) may determine temperature(s) of the ice accumulation surface. A determination of whether ice is present on the ice sensor may be based at least partially on the determined temperature(s). | 06-05-2014 |
20140314562 | FAN SYSTEMS - A fan system may generate an air flow during use. In various implementations, a fan system may include a fan and an orifice. The orifice may include a converging section, a diverging section, and a minimum radius section disposed between the converging section and the diverging section. | 10-23-2014 |