Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080314998 | Temperature control in variable-capacity HVAC system - Relatively constant temperatures are maintained in a space by varying the capacity of heating or cooling equipment. A proportional band is used to adjust capacity to compensate for changes in heating or cooling load, and the proportional band is adjusted to bring the actual temperature within the space closer to the set point temperature. Such an adjustment may be made by determining the difference between the present temperature and the set point temperature, and adjusting a floating temperature set point by a percentage (e.g., ten percent) of the difference. Such a process may be repeated, for example, at regular intervals, such as once per minute. As a result, the temperature within the space approaches (e.g., asymptotically) the set point temperature whether the heating or cooling load is high or low. Methods, systems, and apparatuses are contemplated, including HVAC units and controls, including for residential applications, including using variable-speed drives. | 12-25-2008 |
20100071868 | HVAC UNITS, HEAT EXCHANGERS, BUILDINGS, AND METHODS HAVING SLANTED FINS TO SHED CONDENSATION OR FOR IMPROVED AIR FLOW - HVAC units and systems, air conditioning units, and heat pumps that have micro-channel heat exchangers wherein fins are slanted, multi-tubes are oriented non-horizontally (e.g., vertically), or both, for example. Fins may be slanted downward in the direction of air flow to facilitate drainage of condensation, or may be slanted either downward or upward as appropriate to reduce air-flow restriction. Other embodiments include the heat exchangers themselves and buildings having such heat exchangers, units, or systems, as well as methods concerning such devices, such as methods of manufacture. In some embodiments, heat exchangers are used as evaporators in air conditioning units, as condensers in heat pumps, or both, as examples. | 03-25-2010 |
20100173255 | NOx-REDUCTION APPARATUS, METHOD OF MAKING, FURNACE, HVAC UNIT, AND BUILDING - NOx reduction apparatuses for use in heat exchangers or furnaces, HVAC units and buildings having such devices, and methods of making such devices. Wire embodiments may have a body, helix, or modified helix, and support members that extend outside the body to hold the body away from the heat exchanger or tube. The support members may be made of the wire, and may include bights, twisted bights, or larger (e.g., helical) turns, for instance, between groups of smaller helical turns. In some embodiments, a modified helix is formed by alternating bends and straight sections of wire. Some embodiments include an attachment mechanism that may be made from the wire and may include a hook. Wire may be Nichrome. Particular embodiments may allow burning of natural gas or LP without changing or removing the wire. | 07-08-2010 |
20100310998 | PREMIX FURNACE AND METHODS OF MIXING AIR AND FUEL AND IMPROVING COMBUSTION STABILITY - Premix furnace for heating an occupied space while producing lower NOx emissions and methods of mixing air and fuel delivered to a premix burner and of improving combustion stability. A mixing device may be located within an inlet tube, may have a flat surface that is perpendicular to the direction of fuel flow, or may have two surfaces held at substantially opposite angles to induce swirl. A mixing device may be attached to the fuel injector, may be made from a piece of sheet metal, and may have bends and a hole for attachment to the fuel injector. A fluidic diode in the inlet tube may improve combustion stability and may include a hollow frustum or a frustoconical portion, a cylinder concentric with the inlet tube, or a combination thereof. Some embodiments include refractory insulation lining the combustion chamber or may adjust for elevation or fuel characteristics. | 12-09-2010 |
20120090337 | Heat Pumps With Unequal Cooling and Heating Capacities for Climates Where Demand for Cooling and Heating are Unequal, and Method of Adapting and Distributing Such Heat Pumps - Heat pumps for climates where demand for cooling and heating are unequal and methods of adapting and distributing heat pumps for such climates. Heat pumps include a compressor, compressor motor, variable-speed drive, and controller. In a number of embodiments, non-volatile memory stores sets of constant speeds for cooling and heating, and a person can select, via an input device, different sets of speeds for cooling and heating to provide the different cooling and heating capacities. The controller then operates the unit at the selected speeds, selecting from within the set based on demand for cooling or heating. In some embodiments, different sets of speeds may have the same minimum speed but different maximum speeds. Identical heat pumps can be configured to have different capacity ratings and different advertized efficiencies for different climates. | 04-19-2012 |
20120180774 | MIXING DEVICE FOR MIXING FUEL AND AIR AND FURNACE WITH A MIXING DEVICE - Mixing devices for mixing fuel and air for a premix burner or furnace and furnaces (e.g., premix) with mixing devices. Furnaces may be for heating an occupied space, and may produce lower NOx emissions. A mixing device may be located within an inlet tube, may have a surface that is perpendicular to the direction of fuel flow or that forms a circle, or may have two surfaces held at substantially opposite angles to induce swirl. A portion of the mixing device may extend over an orifice of the fuel injector. A mixing device may be attached to the fuel injector, may be made from a piece of sheet metal, and may have a hole for attachment to the fuel injector. Mixing devices may have a center, two arms, and two ends, which may be separated by bends. A burner plate may be sandwiched between surfaces to allow for expansion. | 07-19-2012 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080216500 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN AIR CONDITIONER OR HEAT PUMP - A control procedure operates an expansion valve of an air conditioning system. The control procedure utilizes a first control procedure to bring a calculated superheat value within a range of a target superheat value, and a second control procedure to cause the calculated superheat value to match the target superheat value. Both the first and second control procedures preferably use Proportional, Integral, Derivative control algorithms. | 09-11-2008 |
20090084131 | Air Conditioning Units with Modular Heat Exchangers, Inventories, Buildings, and Methods - Air conditioning units, methods of manufacturing, inventories, and buildings wherein certain heat exchanger modules are combined to make air conditioning units. In some embodiments, different combinations of different size modules are used to produce air conditioning units having different capacities wherein some identical modules are used in different size units. Various heat exchanger assemblies include spacers between modules, bends formed after modules are assembled into heat exchanger assemblies, attachment rails at the ends of the modules, inactive multi-tubes at the top and bottom of the modules, copper tubing between aluminum modules to facilitate field replacement of individual modules, name plates that attach between modules, attachment clips or spacers that snap attach to the modules, or a combination thereof, as examples. | 04-02-2009 |
20090294112 | INTERNALLY FINNED TUBE HAVING ENHANCED NUCLEATION CENTERS, HEAT EXCHANGERS, AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE - Tubing having internal fins projecting inward from the tube wall, each fin having an external surface that includes multiple acute interior angles or crevices that may form nucleation boiling sites, heat exchangers comprising such tubing, and methods of making same. Acute angles, crevices, or elongated slits may be formed in the sides, center, or both, of the fins or between the fins and the tube wall, and convex rounded surfaces may be provided therebetween. Fins may be parallel to the tube centerline or helically wound. Tubing may be expanded with a bullet which may form an interference fit with external fins, may modify the fins to create more effective nucleate boiling cavities, or both. | 12-03-2009 |