Patents Examined by Kenneth B. Rinehart
  • Patent number: 7927197
    Abstract: A diffuser is provided for controlling flow of air in an air conditioning system. The diffuser has an air flow control baffle (B) that is controlled by pivoting arms (12). Two collars (62,62) actuate the arms (12) in cam fashion by acting on either of two cam surfaces (92,94) of each arm (12) to open or close the baffle (B). The collars (62,64) can move independently of each other towards and away from the respective cam surfaces (92,94), i.e. in an actuating direction. The diffuser includes a set point adjustment mechanism (132) for moving both the collars (62,64) in unison in the actuating direction, i.e. to adjust the heating and cooling set points simultaneously and includes an offset adjustment mechanism (150) for moving one of the collars (62,64) in the actuating direction relative to the other collar, i.e. to change the offset between the heating and cooling set points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Rickard Air Diffusion (Proprietary) Limited
    Inventor: Christiaan Wilhelm Bosch
  • Patent number: 7927095
    Abstract: A time-varying voltage is applied to an electrode, or a pair of electrodes, of a sensor installed in a fuel nozzle disposed adjacent the combustion zone of a continuous combustion system, such as of the gas turbine engine type. The time-varying voltage induces a time-varying current in the flame which is measured and used to determine flame capacitance using AC electrical circuit analysis. Flame capacitance is used to accurately determine the position of the flame from the sensor and the fuel/air ratio. The fuel and/or air flow rate (s) is/are then adjusted to provide reduced flame instability problems such as flashback, combustion dynamics and lean blowout, as well as reduced emissions. The time-varying voltage may be an alternating voltage and the time-varying current may be an alternating current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Benjamin T. Chorpening, Jimmy D. Thornton, E. David Huckaby, William Fincham
  • Patent number: 7922482
    Abstract: The present invention relates to melting plate candles that employ heat conductive materials to distribute heat from a burning flame at a wick to a plate for melting a meltable fuel. Such melting plate candles more rapidly liquefy the meltable fuel, such as paraffin wax. Further, such melting plate candles more uniformly and intensely heat the meltable fuel thereby increasing the efficiency of consumption thereof and more rapidly releasing volatile materials contained within the fuel. The heat conductive plate is configured so as to have a capillary recess or a capillary pedestal upon the surface thereof, which cooperatively engages a wick holder assembly comprising a wick and a heat conductive fin that conducts heat from a flame upon the wick to the plate. The wick holder further engages the fuel and the plate so as to cause the flow of liquefied fuel to the wick.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris A. Kubicek, Paul E. Furner, Mary Beth Adams
  • Patent number: 7921786
    Abstract: The invention includes a grate system for a boiler. The grate system includes a grate unit and a side header guard. The grate unit supports fuel during combustion thereof, and has an upper surface, a lower surface, and upturned lateral edges. The side header guard is arranged along a side wall of the boiler and has upwardly and downwardly projecting fin portions. The upwardly projecting fin portion is adapted and configured to extend over and protect the boiler side wall from abrasion by fuel. The downwardly projecting fin portion is adapted and configured to extend over the upturned lateral edge of the grate unit, inhibiting passage of fuel therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Riley Power Inc.
    Inventors: John Sund, Larry Pace, Kevin Toupin
  • Patent number: 7918220
    Abstract: A portable and compact grill apparatus can be implemented in the form of free standing portable propane fueled cooking device, which utilizes one or more legs (e.g., four legs) to support the cooking surface. The device permits a standard propane tank to fit between the legs and directly under the cooking surface. The design permits one of the legs to be removed (by rotating it away from the center) to accommodate the exchange of the propane unit (required for refill of fuel). This design creates a very compact unit due to the fact that the fuel tank, burner and cooking surface all fit in a vertical column thus requiring minimal space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Inventors: Nevin D. Montaño, Narciso Montaño
  • Patent number: 7918039
    Abstract: A web coating process and apparatus employing a coating applicator, dryer or curing station and web-handling equipment for conveying the web past the coating applicator and through the dryer. The web is enclosed from at least the coating applicator to the dryer or curing station in a close-coupled enclosure or series of close-coupled enclosures supplied with one or more streams of conditioned gas flowing at a rate sufficient to reduce materially the particle count or change materially a physical property of interest in a close-coupled enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: William Blake Kolb
  • Patent number: 7918038
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for treating a moving substrate of indefinite length. The apparatus has a control surface positioned in close proximity to a surface of the substrate to define a control gap between the substrate and the control surface. A first chamber is positioned near the control surface, with the first chamber having a gas introduction device. A second chamber is positioned near the control surface, the second chamber having a gas withdrawal device. The control surface and the chambers together define a region wherein the adjacent gas phases possess an amount of mass. Upon inducement of at least a portion of the mass within the region, the mass flow is controlled to significantly reduce dilution of the gas phase component in the adjacent gas phase. This is accomplished through the introduction of a controlled gas stream thereby reducing the flow of an uncontrolled ambient gas stream due to pressure gradients in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Craig A. Miller, Nirmal K. Jain, William Blake Kolb
  • Patent number: 7913632
    Abstract: A method of combustion for pulverized hydrocarbonaceous fuel includes injecting a concentrated fuel and air stream into a burner, causing a low-pressure zone; directing a flow of a high-temperature combustion gas from a combustion chamber into the low-pressure zone in the burner; mixing the high-temperature combustion gas with the injected concentrated stream to heat the injected concentrated stream; injecting the heated concentrated stream from the burner to the combustion chamber, wherein the concentrated stream is rapidly devolatilized and combusted in a flame that has a fuel-rich flame zone; sensing a combustion parameter; and, based on the sensed combustion parameter, controlling combustion to achieve at least one of a desired NOx reduction and a desired distance from the burner to a flame front.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Clean Combustion Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Zhen Jia, Taofang Zeng, Xiaoguang Jia, Xing Li
  • Patent number: 7913683
    Abstract: A radiant tube heater has a tubular arrangement with an air duct portion forming a combustion air passage and a radiant tube portion which is heated by and surrounds a laminar flame. An inlet end of the air duct portion receives combustion air from a blower. A burner assembly mounted in the air duct portion includes a burner nozzle and a burner head for mixing gas and combustion air, this head having an inlet portion and an outlet portion wider than the inlet portion. A perforated restricting plate is mounted in the air duct portion and extends around the burner head. Air holes in this plate are sized and distributed so that the plate increases flow of combustion air through openings formed in the side of the inlet portion and allows combustion air to flow in the annular passage between the outlet portion and the air duct portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Schwank Ltd.
    Inventors: Bernd Schwank, Samer Hassan, Yuri Kyrychynskyi, Tibor Virag
  • Patent number: 7909601
    Abstract: A burner for use in furnaces such as those employed in steam cracking. The burner includes a primary air chamber for supplying a first portion of air, a burner tube having an upstream end and a downstream end, a burner tip having an outer diameter, the burner tip mounted on the downstream end of the burner tube adjacent a first opening in the furnace, so that combustion of the fuel takes place downstream of the burner tip producing a gaseous fuel flame, at least one air port in fluid communication with a secondary air chamber for supplying a second portion of air, the at least one air port radially positioned beyond the outer diameter of the burner tip and at least one non-gaseous fuel gun for supplying atomized non-gaseous fuel, the at least one non-gaseous fuel gun having at least one fuel discharge orifice, the at least one non-gaseous fuel gun positioned within the at least one air port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: George Stephens, David Spicer, Kurt Edward Kraus
  • Patent number: 7905722
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for controlling a burner's adjustable secondary air controller. Specifically, the system relates to a control logic for the control of an air supply to a burner such as a natural gas burner used in the production and/or processing of liquid and gaseous petroleum products and in natural gas dehydration systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Inventors: Rodney T. Heath, Forrest D. Heath, Gary Heath
  • Patent number: 7901203
    Abstract: A combustion chamber (1), in particular in a gas turbine, has at least two burners (A-H) that are connected to a fuel supply (3) via controllable fuel valves (2? and 2). Each burner (A to H) is assigned at least one optical measuring device (4) for detecting chemiluminescent radiation, and the combustion chamber (1) is assigned a pressure sensor (7) for detecting a combustion chamber pressure. The optical measuring device (4) and the pressure sensor (7) are connected to a computing and control device, which calculates a correlation value from the incoming measured values. A high correlation value signifies that the associated burner is prone to pulsation. The computing and control device (6) is designed in such a way that it determines the burner or a burner group with the highest correlation and controls the associated fuel valve(s) in such a way that more fuel is fed to the respective burner or the respective burner group, and the pulsation tendency thereof is thereby reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Alexander Ni, Valter Bellucci, Peter Flohr, Bruno Schuermans, Majed Toqan, Ken-Yves Haffner
  • Patent number: 7900567
    Abstract: A method for improving the operation safety of the smelt spout area of a recovery boiler, which smelt spout area comprises a working area (6), as well as smelt spouts (2) connected to the lower part of the boiler for directing the smelt from the boiler to a dissolving tank (4). In the method the smelt spouts (2) are separated from the working area (6) by a shielding wall (8, 10) arranged movable in relation to the smelt spouts. The invention also relates to a smelt spout area of a recovery boiler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Metso Power Oy
    Inventors: Kari Haaga, Hannu Koskela, Ari Saarela
  • Patent number: 7901204
    Abstract: A dual-fuel burner for use in furnaces such as in steam cracking. The burner includes a primary air chamber, a burner tube having an upstream end and a downstream end, a fuel orifice located adjacent the upstream end of the burner tube for introducing gaseous fuel into the burner tube, a burner tip having an outer diameter mounted on the downstream end of the burner tube adjacent a first opening in the furnace, so that combustion of the gaseous fuel takes place downstream of the burner tip, and at least one non-gaseous fuel gun, the at least one non-gaseous fuel gun having at least one fuel discharge orifice for combusting the non-gaseous fuel downstream of the discharge orifice, wherein the at least one non-gaseous fuel gun is radially positioned beyond the outer diameter of the burner tip so that a flame emanating from the combustion of the non-gaseous fuel is substantially aligned in parallel with a flame emanating from the combustion of the gaseous fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: George Stephens, David Spicer
  • Patent number: 7895956
    Abstract: A firebox apparatus is adapted for transport on a vehicle having a roll-off hoist mechanism by providing parallel guides on the underside of a supporting skid assembly of the firebox apparatus for engaging siderails of a tiltable roll-off track of the hoist mechanism, and by providing reinforced front and rear portions connecting parallel longitudinal skid members to maintain an opening at the bottom of the firebox apparatus yet make the firebox apparatus sufficiently sturdy to withstand loads encountered during loading an unloading from the transport vehicle. The firebox apparatus includes an air curtain system for limiting pollution resulting from incineration of waste. The present invention enables easy installation and removal of the firebox apparatus in crowded environments, such as urban environments, to cleanly burn waste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Air Burners LLC
    Inventor: Brian M. O'Connor
  • Patent number: 7895998
    Abstract: A door lock device includes a fixing rack, an operation rack, a solenoid device, an engaging member, and a locking pin. The fixing rack is installed in a receptacle and has a hinge shaft. The operation rack is coupled with the hinge shaft. The solenoid device is installed in the receptacle and has a rod. The engaging member is assembled to the rod and ascends or descends in response to the operation of the solenoid device. The locking pin is installed in the operation rack and performs a locking or unlocking function to the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Poong Won Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: June-Young Lee
  • Patent number: 7895957
    Abstract: A heat exchanger tube 41 includes: a first cover layer 44 provided on an outer side of a tube main body 42 to partly or completely cover a tube main body 42; and a second cover layer 45 provided on an outer side of the first cover layer 44 to partly or completely cover the first cover layer 44. The first cover layer 44 is formed by overlay-welding a material higher in ductility than the second cover layer 45 to the tube main body 42. The second cover layer 45 is formed by overlay-welding a material higher in hardness than the first cover layer 44 to the first cover layer 44.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Dowa Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirotoshi Inomata, Hiroshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7891973
    Abstract: An appliance for providing air and gas to a gas burner includes a gas tube and an air tube. The gas tube comprises an aperture for providing gas inwards to the air tube. The air tube comprises a first aperture for receiving a back tube of the gas burner. The gas tube is provided with a first part of a detachable connection device, for receiving a second part of the detachable connection device provided on the back tube for allowing gas from the gas tube to enter the back tube. The back tube has an orifice for allowing air from the air tube to enter inside the back tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignees: NV Bekaert SA, Bekaert Combustion Technology B.V.
    Inventor: Patrick Lenoir
  • Patent number: 7887322
    Abstract: Disclosed is a mixing hole arrangement for improving homogeneity of an air and fuel mixture in a combustor, the mixing hole arrangement comprising a plurality of mixing holes defined by a liner, wherein at least one of the plurality of mixing holes is a mixing hole that is at least one of sized and positioned to impede penetration of a fluid flow into a primary mixing zone located in a head end of the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Predrag Popovic, Derrick Walter Simons, Krishna Kumar Venkataraman
  • Patent number: 7886735
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drive mechanism for a down draft vent system comprising a vertically directed, retractable open framework (4), which can be moved between an extended position and a lowered position by means of a drive motor (9), comprising at least two switches (11, 12) for switching off the drive motor (9) and at least one actuating element (18, 37) for actuating the switch (11, 12). In this arrangement at least one switch (11, 12) is actuated by means of the at least one actuating element (18, 37) depending on a force (FW) acting externally on the open framework. In addition to an end switch-off of the drive motor, this invention provides a safety function as a result of a resistive load switch-off which is effective both in the event of a resistance from below during retraction and also in the event of a resistance from above during extension of the open framework.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Egon Feisthammel, Petra Holzer, Dieter Rosmann