Glen Michael Robinson

US Patent:

41203160, Oct 17, 1978

Filed:

Feb 28, 1977

Appl. No.:

5/772535

Inventors:

Glen P. Robinson - Atlanta GA
Samuel V. Shelton - Stone Mountain GA

Assignee:

Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. - Atlanta GA

International Classification:

G05D 701

US Classification:

137498

Abstract:

A flow control valve assembly for controlling the flow of a working fluid which has a housing that defines a valve chamber therein, an inlet port to the valve chamber and an outlet port from the valve chamber, a valve body which is movably carried in the chamber between a closed position that blocks the outlet port from communication with the inlet port and an open position so that the inlet port is in communication with the outlet port to allow the working fluid to be forced through the valve chamber, and a valve control means responsive to the velocity of the working fluid flowing through the valve chamber or responsive to the pressure differential across the valve body to operate the valve assembly by moving the valve body between the open position and the closed position.

US Patent:

49559303, Sep 11, 1990

Filed:

Jul 21, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/384148

Inventors:

Glen P. Robinson - Atlanta GA

International Classification:

F25B 700

US Classification:

62 79

Abstract:

A heat pump for heating water in a condenser where the water is circulated through the conductor by a pump controlled by the condensing pressure of the refrigerant to return water heated to a usable temperature to the upper end of the water tank.

US Patent:

40095878, Mar 1, 1977

Filed:

Apr 7, 1975

Appl. No.:

5/565629

Inventors:

Glen P. Robinson - Atlanta GA
Samuel V. Shelton - Stone Mountain GA

Assignee:

Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. - Atlanta GA

International Classification:

F25B 100
F25B 2700

US Classification:

62116

Abstract:

A heat pump system including an evaporator with an inlet and an outlet, a condenser with an inlet and an outlet, a boiler with an inlet and an outlet, an expansion valve connecting the condenser outlet to the evaporator inlet, a liquid pump connecting the condenser outlet to the boiler inlet, and a system working fluid in combination with an expansion-compression device defining a chamber therein and including a free-piston slidably carried in the chamber for linear movement therein, and dividing the chamber into a first subchamber of varying size as said free piston moves and a second subchamber of varying size as said free piston moves along with boiler valve means for selectively introducing working fluid from the boiler outlet into the first subchamber; valve means for selectively introducing working fluid from the evaporator outlet into the first subchamber; condenser valve means for selectively introducing working fluid from said first subchamber into the condenser inlet; means for pressurizing the second subchamber to urge said free piston toward said first subchamber; and control means for selectively causing the boiler valve means to introduce working fluid from the boiler into the first subchamber to drive the free piston toward the second subchamber, for causing the evaporator valve means to introduce working fluid from the evaporator into said first subchamber when the pressure in the first subchamber drops below the pressure in the evaporator, and for selectively causing the condenser valve means to connect the first subchamber to the condenser inlet when said free piston moves toward the first subchamber and when the pressure in the first subchamber rises to the pressure in the condenser. The disclosure also contemplates the operation of the system and the specific construction and operation of the boiler valves and condenser valves.

US Patent:

47406739, Apr 26, 1988

Filed:

Sep 10, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/648504

Inventors:

Glen P. Robinson - Atlanta GA

Assignee:

E-Tech, Inc. - Atlanta GA

International Classification:

H05B 102

US Classification:

219510

Abstract:

An external circuit that works in conjunction with the existing tank thermostatic controls to control both a heat pump and existing resistance elements in compliance with existing governmental codes. At the same time, this circuit disables the resistive heating elements in the hot water tank and enables the heat pump connected thereto so that the heat pump heats the water in the hot water tank. The control of the operation of the heat pump is provided through the thermostat(s) in the existing tank circuitry in the hot water tank which normally controls the resistive heating elements. At the same time, the electric resistive heating elements remain available for standby use. Further, the circuitry of the invention precludes the simultaneous operation of the electric resistive heating elements in the hot water tank and the heat pump heating unit.

US Patent:

54955513, Feb 27, 1996

Filed:

Aug 23, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/110548

Inventors:

Glen P. Robinson - Atlanta GA
Carl C. Hiller - San Ramon CA

Assignee:

Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

H05B 378
F24H 120

US Classification:

392451

Abstract:

An external circuit that works in conjunction with the existing tank thermostatic controls to control both a water heating heat pump and the existing resistance elements in a water heater. The existing resistance elements are disabled to allow the heat pump to heat the water unless a large volume of hot water is quickly withdrawn whereupon the upper resistance element is re-enabled to heat the water for a faster recovery rate.

US Patent:

39889017, Nov 2, 1976

Filed:

Feb 18, 1975

Appl. No.:

5/550413

Inventors:

Samuel V. Shelton - Stone Mountain GA
Glen P. Robinson - Atlanta GA

Assignee:

Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. - Atlanta GA

International Classification:

F25B 100

US Classification:

62116

Abstract:

A dual loop, heat driven, heat pump system including an expansion-compression device with a linearly movable operating mass such as a free piston assembly; a Rankine cycle power loop with a working fluid operatively connected to the expansion-compression device to drive same; a vapor compression heat pump loop with a working fluid operatively connected to the expansion-compression device to be driven thereby; and control means for selectively associating the working fluid of the power loop with the linearly movable mass of the expansion-compression device to cause the power loop working fluid to drive the movable mass linearly and induce linear kinetic energy in the movable mass, and for selectively associating the working fluid of the heat pump loop with the mass while the linear kinetic energy is stored therein to cause at least a portion of the kinetic energy of the mass to be transferred to the heat pump loop working fluid as compression work. The disclosure also comprehends the method of operation of the system.

US Patent:

46465383, Mar 3, 1987

Filed:

Feb 10, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/827733

Inventors:

Andrew L. Blackshaw - Dunwoody GA
Glen P. Robinson - Atlanta GA

Assignee:

Mississipi Power Co. - Gulfport MS

International Classification:

F25B 2700

US Classification:

622387

Abstract:

A heat pump system with three heat exchangers, two of which are connected through a reversible expander and the third of which is connected to both of the first mentioned exchangers through an expander and check valve arrangement for refrigerant to flow from the third to either of the first two heat exchangers but not vice versa. A flow control valve selectively connects the other side of either of the first two heat exchangers to the suction side of the compressor while selectively connecting the other side of any one of the heat exchangers to the high pressure side of the compressor to form a refrigeration loop including two of the heat exchangers. Refrigerant flow through the heat exchanger not being used is blocked.

US Patent:

45985570, Jul 8, 1986

Filed:

Sep 27, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/781093

Inventors:

Glen P. Robinson - Atlanta GA
Andrew L. Blackshaw - Dunwoody GA

Assignee:

Southern Company Services, Inc. - Atlanta GA

International Classification:

F25B 2700

US Classification:

622386

Abstract:

An economical full capacity integrated heat pump water system which utilizes the basic components of conventional heat pump systems and a hot water heat exchanger incorporated in the system. The invention may be operated in three refrigerant flow configurations, with five associated operational modes. In one configuration, the refrigerant flow is from the compressor, through the hot water heat exchanger, through the outdoor heat exchanger, through an expansion device, through the indoor heat exchanger and back to the compressor. In a second configuration, the refrigerant flow is from the compressor, through the hot water heat exchanger, through the indoor heat exchanger, through an expansion device, through the outdoor heat exchanger, and back to the compressor. In a third configuration, for the water heating only mode, the refrigerant flow is from the compressor, through the hot water heat exchanger, through an expansion device designed specifically for the range of refrigerant temperatures for hot water heating, through the outdoor heat exchanger, and back to the compressor.