The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 06, 2025
Filed:
Sep. 01, 2022
Trane International Inc., Davidson, NC (US);
Jacob T. Helgerson, La Crosse, WI (US);
Jay H. Johnson, Houston, MN (US);
Robert S. Bakkestuen, West Salem, WI (US);
TRANE INTERNATIONAL INC., Davidson, NC (US);
Abstract
A method is described for operating a refrigerant circuit that includes a compressor with a driveshaft and one or more gas bearings for supporting the driveshaft. The method includes operating the refrigerant circuit in a first mode which includes supplying gaseous working fluid compressed by the compressor to the one or more gas bearings of the compressor, and the one or more gas bearings using the compressed gaseous working fluid to support the driveshaft. The method includes operating the refrigerant circuit in a second mode which includes supplying liquid working fluid to the one or more gas bearings of the compressor, and the one or more gas bearings using the liquid working fluid to support the driveshaft. A refrigerant circuit includes a compressor, a condenser, an expander, an evaporator, and a controller configured to selectively operate the refrigerant circuit in a least a first mode and a second mode.