Patents Represented by Law Firm Candor, Candor & Tassone
  • Patent number: 5321957
    Abstract: A control system for controlling the operation of an air conditioning compressor and method of making the same are provided, the system comprising a thermostat switch and a high pressure switch arranged in series with a compressor switch across two sides of a power source whereby the thermostat switch and the high pressure switch must be in a closed condition thereof with the compressor switch also being in a closed condition before the compressor can be turned on, the system also comprising a low pressure switch that is arranged so as not to be in series with the other switches across the two sides of the power source and a microprocessor having means operatively associated with the low pressure switch to monitor the condition thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventor: Dwain F. Moore
  • Patent number: 5318439
    Abstract: A jet burner construction, a heating apparatus utilizing the jet burner construction and methods of making the same are provided, the jet burner construction having wing-like extensions respectively disposed on opposite sides of the burner body thereof for respectively interconnecting with adjacent wing-like extensions of adjacent burner constructions, each wing-like extension having a side edge and an elongated outlet slot extending along the side edge thereof and interconnected with an outlet opening of the burner body through which fuel is adapted to issue so as to burn external to the wing-like extensions, each slot having a certain height throughout the elongated length thereof, each wing-like extension having a chamber therein that interconnects with the chamber of the burner body and is adapted to feed fuel from the chamber to the respective slot thereof along a major portion of the elongated length thereof, each chamber of each wing-like extension having a height throughout the entire area thereof tha
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventor: Kent K. Sigler
  • Patent number: 5316470
    Abstract: A jet burner construction, a heating apparatus utilizing the jet burner construction and methods of making the same are provided, the jet burner construction comprising a burner body having a chamber therein and having an inlet leading to the chamber for directing fuel from a fuel source therein and an outlet leading from the chamber and defining an outlet opening through which the fuel is adapted to issue from the chamber to burn externally to the burner body, the burner construction having an insert disposed in the outlet opening, the insert having a central opening part passing therethrough and a plurality of spaced apart opening portions passing therethrough whereby flows of fuel respectively issuing out of the portions and the central part of the insert merge together in a turbulent manner externally of the outlet opening, the burner body being formed of two generally similar integral and one-piece body sections secured together in superimposed relation and each having generally one-half of the outlet op
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventor: Kent K. Sigler
  • Patent number: 5314328
    Abstract: A fuel ignition system and method of making the same are provided, the system having a unit for detecting when an igniter has been heated to ignition temperature, the detecting unit comprising a receiving member for receiving at least some of the electrons emitted from the heated igniter and an electrical circuit for determining from the received electrons an emission rate of the electrons and for operating a fuel feeding device to feed fuel to a burner only when the determined emission rate is at a certain level that proves that the igniter is at ignition temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventor: Jay R. Katchka
  • Patent number: 5311895
    Abstract: A combination of a fuel manifold and a plurality of like fuel control devices mounted thereto, a manifold for such a combination and methods of making the same are provided, the combination comprising a fuel manifold having a fuel receiving chamber therein and a plurality of like fuel control devices mounted to the manifold and having inlet projections extending into the manifold to receive fuel from the chamber thereof, the manifold having a pair of opposed spaced apart substantially flat front and rear walls and a pair of opposed spaced apart substantially flat side walls interconnecting the front and rear walls together, one of the side walls having a plurality of spaced apart openings therethrough and through which the inlet projections of the control devices respectively extend, the side walls being spaced apart a distance that will permit two of the control devices to have the inlet projections thereof respectively extend through aligned openings in the side walls so that two of the control devices can
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventor: David D. Martin
  • Patent number: 5310970
    Abstract: A pressure operated switch construction and method of making the same are provided, the pressure operated switch construction comprising a housing having an external surface and carrying an electrical switch unit and a diaphragm assembly therein, the housing having an opening passing through the external surface thereof, the switch unit having opposed sides and an opening passing therethrough in alignment with the opening of the housing, and a compression spring unit carried by the housing and being operatively associated with the switch unit and the diaphragm assembly to control the operation thereof in relation to the compression setting of the spring unit, the spring unit comprising a spring retainer operatively interconnected to the switch unit, an actuator carried by the housing and a compression spring having opposed ends respectively bearing against the actuator and the retainer, the retainer having an intermediate part disposed in the opening of the housing and having a surface and a projection extend
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventors: William J. Kaigler, Thomas M. Buckshaw, David T. Llewellyn
  • Patent number: 5303576
    Abstract: A method of testing for leaks in a closed fluid filled system and a system tested by such method are provided, the method comprising the steps of disposing the system in a chamber, disposing a fluid in the chamber under a pressure so that if a leak path of a certain size or larger exists in the system such fluid of the chamber will be forced through the leak path to change the fluid condition in the closed volume of the system, removing the system from the chamber after a certain period of time, then subjecting the system to a certain pressure and temperature condition so that an expandable part of the system will be in an adverse expanded position beyond its normal position for that certain pressure and temperature if the leak path of at least a certain size existed, and then detecting the adverse expanded position of the part of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventor: Joseph J. Erdelsky
  • Patent number: 5305418
    Abstract: A water heater tank arrangement, control device and shaft extension therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the water heater tank arrangement comprising a water heater tank having a heating unit therefor, a control device carried by the tank and having an operating unit to sense the temperature of the tank and to operate the heating unit in relation to the sensed temperature and a selected temperature of the control device, the control device having a housing and having a temperature selector unit rotatably carried by the housing to set the selected temperature, the selector unit comprising a knob provided with a transverse slot therein, and a shaft extension having opposed ends one of which has drive structure snap-fitted into the slot so that the knob is adapted to be rotated upon the turning of the other of the ends of the shaft extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventor: James R. Tuttle
  • Patent number: 5305419
    Abstract: A hot water tank construction, an electrically operated heating element construction therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the electrically operated heating element construction comprising a heating element and an externally threaded fitting for threading into an internally threaded opening in a wall of the tank, the heating element comprising an outer metallic tubular sheath and an inner conductive heater wire insulated from the sheath, the fitting comprising polymeric material, the heating element construction comprising an electrical resistance electrically interconnected to the sheath and being adapted to electrically interconnect the sheath to the wall of the tank, the polymeric material comprising an electrically conductive polymeric material that also comprises the resistance of the heating element construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventor: Gary J. Cameron
  • Patent number: 5300759
    Abstract: A control system, a control device therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the control system comprising a source of energy, an output producing unit that uses the energy to produce the output thereof, a control device having control structure for interconnecting the source of energy to the unit, the control device having a rotatable shaft that sets the control structure in different positions thereof in relation to the rotational set position of the shaft from an "off" position thereof, the control structure having the amount of the energy passing therethrough from the source to the unit being different for each set position thereof, indicating structure operatively associated with the shaft for visually indicating the set position of the shaft and, thus, the amount of energy being fed by the control structure to the unit, and sensing structure operatively associated with the shaft that senses the set position of the shaft and electronically displays that sensed position of the shaft whereby th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventor: David M. Dodson
  • Patent number: 5297955
    Abstract: A jet burner construction, a heating apparatus utilizing the jet burner construction and methods of making the same are provided, the jet burner construction comprising a burner body having a chamber therein and having an inlet leading to the chamber for directing fuel from a fuel source therein and an outlet leading from the chamber and defining an outlet opening through which the fuel is adapted to issue from the chamber to burn externally to the burner body, the burner body having wing-like extensions respectively disposed on opposite sides thereof for respectively interconnecting with adjacent wing-like extensions of adjacent burner constructions, the wing-like extensions each having a side edge and an elongated outlet slot extending along the side edge thereof and interconnecting with the outlet opening and through which fuel is adapted to issue so as to burn external to the wing-like extensions, each slot having a certain height throughout the elongated length thereof, each wing-like extension having a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventor: Fred Riehl
  • Patent number: 5294907
    Abstract: A control device, parts therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the control device having a temperature sensing unit comprising a rod and tube means utilizing a heat expandable and contractible polymeric member disposed between one end of the rod and an abutment of the tube to tend to cause an outer end of the rod to move toward an actuator of the control device upon the unit sensing decreasing temperature and to tend to cause that end of the rod to move away from the actuator upon the unit sensing increasing temperature, a biasing member being operatively interconnected to the unit to continuously place the tube under compression between an open end thereof and the abutment thereof and to continuously place the rod under tension between the opposite ends thereof to tend to reduce the temperature differential of the control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1994
    Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventor: Jay R. Katchka
  • Patent number: 5286190
    Abstract: A jet burner construction, a heating apparatus utilizing the jet burner construction and methods of making the same are provided, the jet burner construction comrpising a burner body having a chamber therein and having an inlet leading to the chamber for directing fuel from a fuel source therein and an outlet leading from the chamber and defining an outlet opening through which the fuel is adapted to issue from the chamber to burn externally to the burner body, the outlet opening having a central opening part and a plurality of spaced apart opening portions interconnected thereto and radiating outwardly therefrom whereby flows of fuel respectively issuing out of the portions and the central part of the outlet opening merge together in a turbulent manner externally of the outlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventor: Fred Riehl
  • Patent number: 5285053
    Abstract: A control system and methods of making and operating the control system are provided, the system comprising an RTD temperature sensor, an applying unit operatively interconnected to the sensor for applying a varying voltage across the sensor and thereby providing a certain current level through the sensor for each certain voltage value being applied across the sensor while the sensor is sensing a certain temperature, and a microcomputer operatively interconnected to the sensor and the applying unit for determining from the voltage being applied across the sensor the actual temperature being sensed by the sensor, the applying unit comprising a charge pump arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventor: Daniel L. Fowler
  • Patent number: 5277363
    Abstract: An electrical system for controlling the operation of a heat exchanger unit, thermostat therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the system having a first electrical power source, the system having an electronic control logic unit operatively interconnected to the first power source to operate the heat exchanger unit in relation to data selectively entered into the electronic control logic unit and being maintained by the electronic control logic unit as long as the electronic control logic unit is receiving electric power, the system having a second electrical power source for supplying electrical power to the electronic control logic unit to maintain the data thereof when the first electrical power source ceases to supply electrical current to the electronic control logic unit even for a relatively long period of time, the second electrical power source comprising a capacitor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventor: Lee A. Hart
  • Patent number: 5266026
    Abstract: A burner construction and method of making the same are provided, the burner construction comprising a burner body having a chamber therein and having opposed ends one of which is open to the chamber and the other of which has structure for interconnecting a source of fuel to the chamber, and a removable cap closing the one end of the body, the burner construction having ports interconnecting the chamber to the exterior of the burner construction and through which the fuel can issue to burn externally to the burner construction, the burner construction comprising a removable venturi section disposed in the chamber and being removable therefrom through the open end of the body when the cap has been removed therefrom, the venturi section having an upper end temporarily fastened to a shoulder of the body by a fastening structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventor: Fred Riehl
  • Patent number: 5261438
    Abstract: A hot water tank construction, parts therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the hot water tank construction comprising a hot water tank having a wall provided with an opening therethrough and a spud carried by the wall and having an opening therethrough that is disposed in aligned relation with the opening in the wall, and a fuel control valve unit having a shank provided with a portion thereof disposed in the opening of the spud and being interconnected to the opening of the spud so as to be carried by the wall, the opening of the spud having axial securing structure therein, the portion of the shank having axial securing structure thereon, the portion of the shank having been axially pushed into the opening of the spud until the portion is in a predetermined position thereof whereby the axial securing structures cooperate together to interconnect the fuel control valve unit to the spud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventor: Jay R. Katchka
  • Patent number: 5259940
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing liquid from liquid bearing material are provided, the apparatus comprising a pair of electrode units having portions thereof disposed adjacent each other and defining an inlet to the adjacent portions and an outlet from the adjacent portions, structure for feeding the liquid bearing material into the inlet, structure for moving the liquid bearing material from the inlet to the outlet so that sections of the material serially move from the inlet to the outlet while being disposed between the adjacent portions, structure for vibrating the liquid bearing material between the adjacent portions of the electrode units as the material is moving from the inlet to the outlet whereby a vibratory field arrangement is applied to the material, and structure for creating a voltage between the pair of electrode units so as to create an electrostatic field arrangement between the adjacent portions of the pair of electrode units for acting through the material that is disposed therebetween
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Inventor: James T. Candor
  • Patent number: 5257002
    Abstract: A temperature operated switch construction, terminal block therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the switch construction comprising a housing, a movable switch arm carried in the housing, a temperature actuated unit disposed in the housing and being operatively interconnected to the switch arm to cause movement of the arm between operating positions thereof in relation to the temperature being sensed by the temperature actuated unit, the housing comprising a main part and a removable terminal block carried by the main part, the terminal block carrying a switch unit that is operatively associated with the switch arm so that the switch unit is in a first condition thereof when the switch arm is in a first operating position thereof and the switch unit is in a second condition thereof when the switch arm is in a second operating position thereof, the switch unit comprising a reed switch and the switch arm carrying a magnet for operating the reed switch to the conditions thereof as the switch arm
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventors: Thomas M. Buckshaw, David D. Martin
  • Patent number: 5249096
    Abstract: A heating element operating unit, control device therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the control device being adapted to operate a heating element that comprises a hot surface igniter with a certain repeating pattern of a single complete half-wave pulse in each repeating pattern of at least two complete full-wave pulses of a source of high voltage alternating current for a predetermined time period, the control device utilizing a staircase generator of two transistors for operating the heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventor: Kurt T. Williams