Patents Examined by Frances H Kamps
  • Patent number: 8152515
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, an apparatus includes a burner. The apparatus can also include an intake valve that includes an input for receiving fuel from either a first fuel source at a first pressure or a second fuel source at a second pressure. The intake valve can include a first output for directing fuel received from the first fuel source and a second output for directing fuel received from the second fuel source. The intake valve can include an actuator configured to permit fluid communication between the input and the first output or between the input and the second output. The apparatus can include a pressure regulator that can include a first inlet for receiving fuel from the first output of the intake valve and a second inlet for receiving fuel from the second output of the intake valve. The regulator can also include an outlet for directing fuel from the pressure regulator toward the burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Appliances Inc
    Inventor: David Deng
  • Patent number: 8137169
    Abstract: The present application describes an arrangement and a method for utilizing the heat of waste air for heating the bilge area of aircraft, wherein the bilge area is connected to a heat transfer unit via a first air supply pipe, through which a bilge air flow drawn in from the bilge area flows into the heat transfer unit, wherein the heat transfer unit comprises a second air supply pipe, through which a waste air heat flow to be cooled that is created at another location in the aircraft flows into the heat transfer unit in order to heat the drawn-in bilge air flow, wherein the heat transfer unit comprises a first air discharge pipe, through which the cooled waste air heat flow is discharged, and a second air discharge pipe with a bilge inlet section, and wherein at least a portion of the heated bilge flow is returned to the bilge area via the air discharge pipe and the bilge inlet section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Markwart, Thomas Scherer, Oliver Schaumann
  • Patent number: 8109814
    Abstract: Provided is a wind turbine generator system that can cool a nacelle interior by ventilation irrespective of the outside air temperature in various installation environments. In a wind turbine generator system in which equipment of drive and electricity generation mechanisms that are coupled to a rotor head provided with wind turbine blades is disposed inside a nacelle, and in which, by driving a ventilation fan provided in the nacelle, outside air introduced from an air inlet provided in a front face of the nacelle is exhausted outside the nacelle from an air outlet that communicates with a fan outlet, to perform ventilation cooling of the interior, a side air inlet is additionally provided in a side face of the nacelle at a position where a negative pressure is generated by air flowing outside the nacelle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Uchino, Shinsuke Sato, Takatoshi Matsushita
  • Patent number: 8109760
    Abstract: A torch, and ignitor or gas valve interlock located on the same part which the operator moves to activate the torch, which is overcome by the operator by providing a tangential rolling force to the interlock as the finger is seated on a downwardly actuated ignitor. The torch ignitor and gas valve interlock according to the present invention requires a skilled, compound motion easily provided by an adult and unlikely to be imposed by accidental gross motions, without diminishing or interfering with the operator's ability to easily operate the ignitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Blazer Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Max Berkovits
  • Patent number: 8105139
    Abstract: The present invention refers to an air control device (1), in particular for a heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning installation for automotive vehicles, comprising a housing (3) having two apertures (4, 5). It comprises two dampers (6, 7) with at least one portion of sealing. Dampers (6, 7) have a lower part comprising a U-shaped section (22?, 22?) defining a groove (39) operating conjointly with a portion having an inverted U shape (46) of housing (3) to create another portion of sealing. Housing (3) has a lower part (30?, 30?) comprising a groove (47) operating conjointly with a rib (43) disposed on the spiral (13) whereon housing (3) is mounted to define a further portion of sealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Valeo Sistemas Automotivos LTDA
    Inventor: Micael Mateus
  • Patent number: 8096862
    Abstract: An isolation damper for preventing the migration of air from a ventilated space includes a high differential pressure sealing chamber in the damper assembly that prevents the flow of air from the “clean” side of the damper assembly to the “dirty” side thereof. Pressurized air leaking out of the sealing chamber creates reverse flow leakage toward the dirty side which assures the clean side air is not contaminated by the dirty side air. Differential pressure between the sealing chamber and the dirty side is monitored with the differential pressure reported and alarmed externally if reductions in pressure indicate the sealing effect of the sealing chamber could be affected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Inventor: Stanley J. Demster
  • Patent number: 8087927
    Abstract: A hand-held torch includes a housing. A fuel flow path is defined within the housing. A plunger is movable within the housing to control fuel flow through the fuel flow path. An engagement portion is coupled to the plunger. A latching element is movable to engage the engagement portion when the plunger is positioned to allow fuel flow through the fuel flow path. An actuator is coupled to the latching element and exposed for manipulation by a user to move the latching element into engagement with the engagement portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Zippo Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Louis V. Aronson, II, Adam Grabicki
  • Patent number: 8066559
    Abstract: The invention eliminates recirculation or back draft associated cooling air flows in systems that use two or more cooling fans/blowers (or other possible cooling devices). The inventive device with accomplish this by mean of an “Iris-like” in-plane device. The solution described herein is to be passive in nature (although it could be made to respond to electronic or other signals/commands/control mechanisms) and will be capable of responding to a filed fan/blower and engage at the time of fan/blower failure simply by detecting the change of pressure associated with the failed cooling device. The inventive device will reduce the space required and the cost associated with back draft damping or recirculation. In addition, the device can be retrofitted to existing systems and can be designed to be an integral part of a finger guard (a safety feature) of a cooling fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Stealthdrive, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Douglas Cochrane
  • Patent number: 8065997
    Abstract: A heating cooking appliance is provided. The heating cooking appliance includes a case, a plate, a burner system, and a warm zone guide. The plate covers the top of the case. The burner system is provided below the plate and defines a heating region on the plate. The heating region heats food. A warm zone guide defines a warm zone region on the plate through exposing at least a portion of an undersurface of the plate to combustion gas generated from the burner system during exhausting of the combustion gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dae Rae Lee, Jung Wan Ryu, Dae Bong Yang, Sang Min Lyu, Yong Ki Jeong, Young Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 8020547
    Abstract: A pellet stove is disclosed comprising a reverse flow heated air pathway defined by stove sections. In an illustrated embodiment, the space between upper and lower stove sections is open to provide a heating or oven area. The stove can be readily disassembled in part for easy portability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Clarry Pellet Stove, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Hepper, Carl Williamson
  • Patent number: 8016589
    Abstract: Included is a method of starting up a direct heating device having a fuel introduction zone, a combustion zone and a process zone that is in heat exchange relationship with said combustion zone. Prior to the introduction of a fuel fluid into said combustion zone, an oxidant fluid, having a high temperature, is passed through the combustion zone for a warm-up time period sufficient to raise the temperature of the direct heating device to a desired temperature. Steam or a process fluid is passed through the process zone followed by the introduction of a fuel fluid into the fuel introduction zone. After the device has been heated up a process fluid is introduced through the process zone. Thereafter, the introduction of steam through the process zone may be stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Peter Veenstra, Abdul Wahid Munshi