Patents Examined by Alissa Tompkins
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Patent number: 9963372Abstract: Glass furnace regenerators having opposed pairs of side and end walls formed of refractory blocks, a crown arch assembly forming an arched roof of the regenerator, and a rider arch assembly forming an interior floor of the regenerator are provided, wherein at least one of the crown arch assembly and rider arch assembly is formed of adjacently positioned one-piece monolithic pre-cast structures of refractory materials.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2015Date of Patent: May 8, 2018Assignee: FOSBEL, INC.Inventors: Alan E. Bowser, Jr., Robert D. Chambers, Lou Carolla, Michael P. Smith
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Patent number: 9958208Abstract: Control process for a furnace for baking carbon anodes comprising: longitudinal hollow partitions in each of which a flow of hot baking gas may circulate, hollow partitions together defining cells to receive the anodes to be baked, and a heating system rotating in relation to the hollow partitions comprising an upstream blowing ramp blowing air into the various partitions, a downstream suction ramp sucking gas from the various partitions and at least one heating ramp. This process comprises a natural pre-heating phase of the partitions and anodes which release combustible, volatile matter which burns inside the hollow partitions as a degassing in a natural pre-heating zone of the furnace downstream of the heating ramp. According to the invention, gas flows circulating in the hollow partitions are modified so as to control gas flows passing through a first natural pre-heating zone from gas flows leaving a second natural pre-heating zone to control the location of the degassing front.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2010Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: Rio Tinto Alcan International LimitedInventors: François Morales, Alain De La Torre
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Patent number: 9958154Abstract: A charge electrode configured to impart a time-varying charge to a flame and a shape electrode located outside the flame may be driven synchronously by a voltage source through time varying voltage(s). The flame may be flattened or compressed responsive to an electric field produced by the shape electrode acting on the charges imparted to the flame.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2012Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: CLEARSIGN COMBUSTION CORPORATIONInventors: Joseph Colannino, Thomas S. Hartwick, David B. Goodson, Tracy A. Prevo, Christopher A. Wiklof
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Patent number: 9956848Abstract: A method of heating a cabin of a motor vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine operatively connected to an exhaust system having a catalyst, and a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is provided. The method includes detecting a request to increase temperature inside the cabin, supplying fuel and air to the engine, and motoring the engine to pump the fuel and air into the exhaust system. The method also includes heating the catalyst to combust the fuel and air inside the catalyst such that a stream of post-combustion exhaust gas is generated. The method additionally includes channeling the generated stream of post-combustion exhaust gas to the HVAC system such that a temperature of a coolant circulated through the HVAC system is increased to heat the cabin. A system configured to perform the above method is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2011Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Bryan Nathaniel Roos, Eugene V. Gonze, Halim G. Santoso, Brian L. Spohn
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Patent number: 9951962Abstract: A heat pump heating and hot-water system includes a water heating heat exchanger for heating water by heat exchange with a heating medium heated by a heat pump unit, an indoor heating unit, a heating circulation circuit for selectively pumping the heating medium to either of the water heating heat exchanger and the indoor heating unit using a heating medium pump, and a hot-water accumulating circuit that sends water in a hot-water storage tank to the water heating heat exchanger and returns water having passed through the water heating heat exchanger to the hot-water storage tank using a water pump. The volumetric flow rate of the heating medium pumped to the water heating heat exchanger by the heating medium pump is higher than or equal to the volumetric flow rate of the water pumped to the water heating heat exchanger by the water pump.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2011Date of Patent: April 24, 2018Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Shogo Tamaki, Makoto Saito, Fumitake Unezaki, Nobuaki Uehara
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Patent number: 9945613Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for efficient heating during production of corundum. One embodiment takes the form of a system for processing corundum including a first furnace and a second furnace. The first and second furnaces are sequentially arranged and heat from the first furnace is subsequently used to heat the second furnace.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2012Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Christopher D. Prest, Dale N. Memering
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Patent number: 9945558Abstract: A combined heat exchanger including a flue gas cooler heat-transfer unit supplied with cooling fluid by a supply pump and an upstream GGH heat-transfer unit for circulation of circulating fluid with a downstream GGH by a circulation pump is arranged at an outlet of a gas air heater for heat exchange of flue gas from a boiler body for oxyfuel combustion with recirculation flue gases. A low-low temperature ESP is arranged at an outlet of the combined heat exchanger. A heat-exchange-duty adjustment device is arranged to regulate heats exchanged in the heat-transfer units in the heat exchanger such that at least flue gas temperature at the inlet of the low-low temperature ESP is kept to an inlet set temperature.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2014Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: IHI CORPORATIONInventor: Terutoshi Uchida
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Patent number: 9945580Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a ventilation assembly comprising a main housing adapted for installation into standard 2?×4? wall or ceiling construction within a building or space. The main housing can include a fluid inlet through which fluid is received within the main housing, and a fluid outlet through which fluid exits the main housing. The ventilation assembly can be installed in place of an existing ventilation exhaust fan assembly, or can be installed in a space where no ventilation assembly has previously existed. The main housing can provide support to a blower assembly, including a scroll and a blower wheel positioned within the scroll. A motor may be nestled within the scroll and coupled to the blower wheel. Electrical power can be supplied to the motor to cause the motor to rotate the blower wheel to generate a flow of fluid out of the fluid outlet.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2012Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: Broan-NuTone, LLCInventors: Robert G. Penlesky, Daniel L. Karst, Mirko Zakula, John R. Adrian
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Patent number: 9945581Abstract: A water heater includes a burner of a premixed type, a heat exchanger, and a fan suctioning combustion gas and exhausting combustion gas to the outside. The burner includes a burner case partitioned into a combustion chamber and a gas introduction chamber by a partition plate and a plurality of combustion tubes arranged in the combustion chamber. An air supply opening for supplying air into the gas introduction chamber is provided in the burner case. The partition plate has a plurality of opening portions communicating with the inside of the combustion tubes and a plurality of through holes communicating with the outside of the combustion tubes within the combustion chamber. The air supply opening is constructed to have an opening area smaller than the total sum of the total of opening areas of the plurality of opening portions and the total of opening areas of the plurality of through holes.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2015Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: NORITZ CORPORATIONInventors: Yu Fujimoto, Norihide Wada
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Patent number: 9939175Abstract: In a fuel-fired water heater with a standing pilot burner and a motorized flue damper, a specially designed controller is utilized to prevent overheating of water stored in the tank portion of the water heater caused by the hot combustion gases continuously generated by the pilot burner during standby periods of the water heater in which its main fuel burner is not being fired. The controller has a selectively variable water temperature control set point temperature and is operable to sense both ambient temperature and the tank water temperature and to open the flue damper and/or keep it open, after the main burner is off, in response to the presence for a predetermined continuous time period of a predetermined relationship of at least the selected temperature control set point temperature and the sensed ambient temperature.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2013Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Assignee: RHEEM MANUFACTURING COMPANYInventors: Raheel A. Chaudhry, Jozef Boros, Gianpiero Turrin
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Patent number: 9937775Abstract: An air nozzle for discharging an air flow from an air supply duct of a heating, ventilation or air-conditioning system, in particular in a passenger compartment of a vehicle, composed of a nozzle body and of a receiving element which receives the nozzle body, wherein the receiving element is arranged on the air supply duct, and wherein the nozzle body and/or the receiving element are/is mounted so as to be pivotable about at least one degree of freedom, wherein in the interior of the nozzle body there is arranged a swirl insert which is arranged fixedly and which is connected rigidly to the nozzle body.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2012Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Assignee: MAHLE INTERNATIONAL GMBHInventors: Marco D'Angelo, Thomas Rais, Axel Tidelski
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Patent number: 9933182Abstract: A system for optimizing one or more environmental parameters of an enclosed space comprising first and second relatively enclosed regions, such as a living space and a roof space within a building, is disclosed. The system comprises an internal sensor, in the first region, and an external sensor, external to the enclosed space, for measuring respective environmental parameters. The system also comprises a controller and a diverter valve. The controller is configured to specify the first region's ideal internal environmental parameter, and compare this specified parameter with the measured first region's internal parameter and the measured external parameter to determine whether the diverter valve directs air from the first or second enclosed region to exhaust through the ventilator.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2013Date of Patent: April 3, 2018Assignee: CSR Building Products LimitedInventors: Tarek Alfakhrany, Colin Schwecke, Derek Munn
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Patent number: 9927128Abstract: A method for operating an oven appliance includes establishing a set temperature, operating a heating element of the oven appliance in order to heat a cooking chamber of the oven appliance to a target temperature with the heating element, and continually reducing the target temperature to the set temperature. A related control system for an oven appliance is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2014Date of Patent: March 27, 2018Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventor: Stephen Christopher Boedicker
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Patent number: 9927176Abstract: Furnace for melting inorganic salts, comprising a container, at least one inlet area for solid inorganic salts, at least one outlet area for molten inorganic salts and at least one heat exchanger tube or coil. Each heat exchanger tube includes an inlet section connected to the outer side wall of the container, a spiral section substantially along the inner side walls of the container defining an internal space, with this spiral section arranged in a substantially horizontal plane, and an outlet section which is substantially vertical and goes downwards towards the bottom area or upwards towards the top area of the container. This furnace provides better safety and performance than previously known furnaces.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2011Date of Patent: March 27, 2018Assignee: HERLOGAS, S.A.Inventors: Herminio Lopez Llorca, Alejandro Lopez Fanarraga
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Patent number: 9919942Abstract: A regenerative chamber for a glass melting furnace having a defined cross-section and wherein the regenerative chamber includes multiple slotted arches and above the same there are disposed transfer layers, and wherein a grating is installed on the transfer layers. A movable flow barrier is provided above the slotted arches that is inserted from the outside into the regenerative chamber and by means of which the cross-section of the regenerative chamber can be reduced.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2012Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Beteiligungen Sorg GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Alexander Sorg, Matthias Lindig
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Patent number: 9920953Abstract: A water heater appliance includes a tank and a heated water conduit extending from the tank. A mixing valve is coupled to the heated water conduit, and a heat trap is mounted to the heated water conduit upstream of the mixing valve. The heat trap includes a membrane disposed within the heated water conduit. The membrane of the heat trap may assist with obstructing recirculation of heated water from the tank into the heated water conduit.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2015Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Shaun Michael Ward, Timothy Scott Shaffer
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Patent number: 9921012Abstract: A water heating apparatus includes a burner, a heat exchanger for heating hot and cold water with use of heat from the burner, a scale detector for detecting occurrence of scale clogging in the heat exchanger, a notifying unit for notifying an error when the scale detector detects occurrence of a scale greater than or equal to a predetermined amount, and a controller performing a control of allowing the notifying unit to notify an error and prohibiting combustion operation of the burner when the scale detector detects occurrence of a scale greater than or equal to the predetermined amount. The controller is configured to start a cleaning mode for cleaning inside the heat exchanger when the controller detects shifting operation to the cleaning mode after the combustion operation of the burner is prohibited.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2013Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: NORITZ CORPORATIONInventors: Yu Fujimoto, Scott Isaksen, Bronwyn Planasch
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Patent number: 9920925Abstract: A sludge lance for a tube and shell steam generator that has a central divider plate that extends substantially the length of a central tube lane substantially bisecting a hand hole through which the tube lane can be accessed. The sludge lance has a nozzle with a spring biased, reciprocally movable plunger that extends against the divider plate and is locked in position by a stream of high pressure cleaning fluid that traverses the nozzle and exits through jets to clean sludge from between the tubes. An alignment tool with a swing arm indexes the jets to assure they are properly aligned with the tube rows and spaced from the divider plate.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2013Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLCInventor: Phillip J. Hawkins
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Patent number: 9918412Abstract: A cooling system for a computer room includes a forced air system. The forced air system moves cooling air through computers in one or more rack systems in the computer room. Stacks are coupled between the rack systems and the ceiling of the computer room. Each stack may include a flexible portion between an inlet portion and an exit portion of the stack. The stacks direct cooling air exiting from exit ports on the rack systems to openings in the ceiling.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2016Date of Patent: March 13, 2018Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Osvaldo P. Morales
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Patent number: 9914336Abstract: An automotive vehicle has a passenger cabin, an HVAC system adjustable between a fresh air mode and a recirculate mode, a compartment containing a heat-producing electrical component, and a non-passenger compartment that is ventilated to outside of the vehicle. A duct has an inlet end adjacent the compartment and an outlet end adjacent an air intake of the HVAC system. A valve controls whether cooling air exiting the compartment is directed into the duct or into the non-passenger compartment. The valve is operated to direct a majority of the cooling air into the duct when the HVAC system is in the recirculate mode, and into the non-passenger compartment when the HVAC system is in the fresh air mode. Air from the non-passenger compartment may be vented out of the vehicle through an air extractor vent.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2010Date of Patent: March 13, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Mark G. Smith