Rheem Manufacturing Company

Robert L Long

Karl S Tallakson

Kenneth D Frederick

Sivakumar Gopalnarayanan

Kevin M Ray

Hari Krishna Kanagala

Randy W Foster

Harold Gene Havard, Jr

Scott D Winters

Junjie Luo

David Kauppila

Rosa Leal

Timothy J Shellenberger

Atilhan Manay

Harshad V Inamdar

Vishwanath Reddy Ardha

Walter R Lowrimore

Walker R Lowrimore

A combination domestic hot water and space heating system is disclosed. The system includes two refrigerant circuits, one dedicated to heating potable water in a water storage tank and one dedicated to heating a condenser used to heat a space within a building. A controller sends output signals to valves to vary refrigerant flow into the first refrigerant circuit and/or the second refrigerant circuit. The variation in refrigerant flow can be provided by a single multi-directional valve, one or more valves placed at a first end of each refrigerant circuit, and/or one or more electronic expansion valves placed at the end of each refrigerant circuit. Portions of the system can be placed into a single housing, thereby reducing installation costs and labor.

Combined space and water heating systems

Embodiments include overflow sensor assemblies for water heaters, HVAC systems, and other devices for which temperature control systems may be used. An example overflow sensor assembly for detecting fluid leaks at a device may include a sensor probe configured to be in electrical communication with a power supply, and a sensor mounting bracket that forms a ground, where the sensor mounting bracket is configured to be adjustably coupled to a mounting surface on the device, such that the sensor mounting bracket can deflect about the mounting surface. The sensor probe is suspended from the sensor mounting bracket.

Overflow sensor assembly in temperature control systems

A heating system with wraparound heat exchanger is disclosed. The system includes a centrifugal fan that expels air radially into a plenum space. A heat exchanger tube is placed in the plenum space, thereby heating the air in the plenum space before it exits an assembly cabinet. The heat exchanger tube can have various configurations, including non-horizontal configurations so as to allow condensate to drain from the heat exchanger tubes.

Heating systems with unhoused centrifugal fan and wraparound heat exchanger

A combination water heating, air conditioning refrigerant system is described. The combined system includes a plurality of independently adjustable electronic expansion valves. The expansion valves can independently modulate the delivery of high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant to either a water heat exchanger or an outside condenser. A controller can receive input signals, including temperature signals from one or more temperature sensors that indicate the temperature at various locations of the system. The temperature signals include one or more of water temperature signals, ambient air temperature signals, or refrigerant super heat temperatures signals. In response to the input signals, the controller can output control signals to one or more of the plurality of electronic expansion valves.

Combined air conditioning and water heating via expansion valve regulation

The disclosed technology includes an air system including a first interlaced microchannel heat exchanger and a second interlaced microchannel heat exchanger. The air system can include a plurality of fluidly separated refrigerant circuits, and each of the refrigerant circuits can be configured to flow through the first interlaced microchannel heat exchanger and the second interlaced microchannel heat exchanger. The first interlaced microchannel heat exchanger can be located indoors, and the second interlaced microchannel heat exchanger can be located outdoors. Each of the refrigerant circuits can include its own compressor and expansion valve.

Interlaced microchannel heat exchanger systems and methods thereto

The disclosed technology includes systems and methods for controlling an air conditioning system. The method of controlling the air conditioning system can include receiving air temperature data from an air temperature sensor and determining that the air conditioning system should operate in a reheat mode based on the air temperature being less than a threshold air temperature. The method can include outputting a control signal to a first electronic expansion valve to close and thereby prevent refrigerant to flow through an outdoor condenser coil. The method can also include outputting a control signal to a second electronic expansion valve to open and thereby permit refrigerant to flow through a reheat coil.

Air conditioning reheat systems and methods thereto

Embodiments include overflow sensor assemblies for water heaters, HVAC systems, and other devices for which temperature control systems may be used. An example overflow sensor assembly for detecting fluid leaks at a device may include a sensor probe configured to be in electrical communication with a power supply, and a sensor mounting bracket that forms a ground, the sensor mounting bracket configured to attach to a mounting surface on the device and suspend the sensor probe in a condensate drain pan of the device. An overflow detection circuit can be activated when the sensor probe and the sensor mounting bracket come in contact with a condensate fluid.

A condensate drain assembly includes a drain pan configured to receive condensate from an evaporator coil of an air conditioning system. The drain pan is configured to be removed from the air conditioning system. The condensate drain assembly also includes a drainage pipe configured to translate the condensate from the drain pan to a drain located beneath the air conditioning system and a drain pan end cap. The drain pan end cap includes a first aperture configured to drain the condensate from the drain pan and a second aperture configured to align with the drainage pipe.

Air conditioner with condensation drain assembly and improved filter rack

In one embodiment, an overflow sensor assembly of an HVAC unit includes a sensor mounting bracket that is configured to be coupled to a mounting surface of the HVAC unit such that sensor probes of the overflow sensor assembly are suspended within and extend into a condensate drain pan of the HVAC unit. The sensor probes are defined by a sensor element that is coupled to the sensor mounting bracket and a spring that is coupled to the sensor element. The sensor probes are configured to activate an overflow detection circuit when the sensor probes come in contact with condensate fluid collected in the condensate drain pan prior to the condensate fluid overflowing from the condensate drain pan.

A termination block of an HVAC unit comprises an elongated body that is coupled to the frame of the HVAC unit. The elongated body securely retains a refrigerant pressure gauge port therein and mounts a filter drier thereto such that copper tubing to and/or from the refrigerant filter drier and the refrigerant pressure gauge port is held in position to assist with brazing the copper tubing to other copper tubing and/or components of the HVAC unit.

Termination block

A system for conditioning air circulated from an interior of a building includes a refrigerant path, an air-cooled condenser in the refrigerant path, a water-cooled condenser in the refrigerant path that transfers heat from refrigerant in the refrigerant path to the building water, an evaporator in the refrigerant path, and a control system. The control system moves the system between operation of the air-cooled condenser and the water-cooled condenser based upon predetermined system conditions.

Growing community of inventors

Fort Smith, AR, United States of America

Robert L Long