IP Library Granted Patent US 10,731,899
Granted Patent B2
US 10,731,899 · App. 15/835,882 · Granted Aug 4, 2020

Variable refrigerant package

Inventors: Kevin L. Eicher (Seguin, TX); George C. Cagle (San Antonio, TX); Eduardo J. Guerrero (Helotes, TX); Bascom Clayton Cotner (San Antonio, TX)
Assignee: Friedrich Air Conditioning, LLC
F25B13/00F24F1/027F24F3/1405F24F13/20F25B41/046F25B49/02F25B49/025F24F2003/1446F24F2011/0002F24F2013/227F25B2600/021F25B2600/2513Y02B30/741
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,731,899
App. No.
15/835,882
Granted
Aug 4, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A variable refrigerant package air conditioner is shown that is easy to install in new construction with a unique base that causes collected mixture that overflows to drain outside the building. A control system is shown that has motors and compressor that are pulse width modulated so the air conditioner is infinitely variable while maintaining the highest possible power factor. Dehumidification of outside air occurs as it is mixed with inside air. By gradually approaching a temperature set point and even reheating after dehumidification, moisture is removed from the room.

Claims (21)

1. A variable refrigerant package for cooling a room, said variable refrigerant package being located in a closet adjacent an outside wall, said closet being wired for power and connection to a thermostat to set temperature in said room, said variable refrigerant package abutting a plenum through said outside wall and resting on a base, said variable refrigerant package including:

an outdoor air inlet through said plenum;

a condenser;

a condenser fan assembly for drawing outside air through said outdoor air inlet and moving said outside air through said condenser and out said plenum to outside said room;

a path for indoor entering air;

an evaporator and electric heater in said path;

a blower assembly for drawing said indoor entering air from said room through said evaporator and electric heater prior to discharge back into said room;

an evaporator drain pan below said evaporator for collecting any condensate and discharging collected condensate through a drain tube from said variable refrigerant package;

a compressor connected to refrigerant lines connecting said condenser to said evaporator to compress refrigerant flowing there through;

a reversing valve assembly connected to said refrigerant lines for reversing direction of flow of said refrigerant;

an improvement in said variable refrigerant package comprising:

an electromagnetic interference filter for receiving and filtering electromagnetic interference from said power, said power being an AC signal;

an n-phase interleaved active power factor correction for said power, said n-phase interleaved active power factor correction receiving said power filtered by said electromagnetic interference filter, said n-phase interleaved active power factor correction including:

(a) a full wave rectifier for converting said power to a rectified AC signal;

(b) a resistor network comprised of a first plurality of resistors connected to said full wave rectifier, said first plurality of resistors for sensing an input voltage from said full wave rectifier, and a second plurality of resistors for sensing an output voltage from an output capacitor and providing a feedback voltage;

(c) a pair of inductors connecting to a pair of current sensors before connecting to respective power switching devices, said pair of current sensors comprised of a current sensor and voltage sensor, said pair of current sensors continually detecting consumption of said power;

(d) a controller programmed for monitoring and receiving (1) said input voltage from said full wave rectifier, (2) said output voltage from said output capacitor, and (3) currents from said pair of current sensors, and comparing said input voltage and said output voltage with said currents from said pair of current sensors to trigger said power switching devices to give an increased power factor equal to or substantially close to unity;

said increased power factor being for power supplied to said compressor, blower assembly and/or condenser fan.

2. The variable refrigerant package for cooling a room as recited in claim 1 wherein said power switching devices are MOSFETs.

3. The variable refrigerant package for cooling a room as recited in claim 2 further includes diodes to allow current flow only to said capacitor from said pair of said inductors and said full wave rectifier.

4. The variable refrigerant package for cooling a room as recited in claim 3 further including an input voltage divider to give said input voltage and an output voltage divider to give said output voltage.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 29, 2024
From: EICHER, KEVIN L.; CAGLE, GEORGE C.; GUERRERO, EDUARDO J.; COTNER, BASCOM CLAYTON
To: FRIEDRICH AIR CONDITIONING CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 067254/0877 →
CONVERSION Recorded Apr 29, 2024
From: FRIEDRICH AIR CONDITIONING CO., LTD.
To: FRIEDRICH AIR CONDITIONING, LLC
Reel/Frame 067259/0842 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Aug 27, 2021
From: KAYNE SENIOR CREDIT III LOANCO, LLC, ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: FRIEDRICH AIR CONDITIONING, LLC
Reel/Frame 057337/0073 →
NOTICE OF AGENCY RESIGNATION AND ASSIGNMENT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 26, 2019
From: MEDLEY CAPITAL LLC, AS THE RESIGNING ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: KAYNE SENIOR CREDIT III LOANCO, LLC
Reel/Frame 049602/0231 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2018
From: FRIEDRICH AIR CONDITIONING, LLC
To: MEDLEY CAPITAL LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 046880/0103 →
Continuity (2)
Division 14975166 · Dec 18, 2015
Related Publication 20180106507A1 · Apr 19, 2018