Patents Examined by William Corboy
  • Patent number: 8500440
    Abstract: A burner for a melter is provided which includes a nozzle, a fuel stream moving through the nozzle, and an oxidant stream including an initial elliptical cross section and being external to the nozzle and surrounding the fuel stream for providing a combustion stream having a cross section transitioning from an elliptical cross section to a circular cross section to provide a flat flame from the circular cross section for combustion in the melter. A method for producing a flat flame is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Linde, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew P. Richardson
  • Patent number: 8495997
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for attaching a solar panel to a purlin is disclosed, the solar panel further including a frame having a set of frame holes. The apparatus includes a solar panel clip including a solar panel clip bearing surface, a key formed on the solar panel clip bearing surface, a perpendicular locking surface coupled to the solar panel clip bearing surface, and an upper solar panel spacing section configured to provide an expansion joint. The apparatus also may include a solar panel clip washer mount. A solar panel is positioned on the solar panel clip bearing surface and is secured to the purlin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: MBL & Sons, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert B. Laubach
  • Patent number: 8490615
    Abstract: A field ration packaging assembly includes a ration housing and a food tray. The ration housing includes a lid panel having at least one air exhaust vent and a wall panel having at least one intake vent. The food tray may be positioned above a heat source. The at least one air exhaust vent and at least one air intake vent may be in fluid communication such that upon activation of the heat source, air enters the ration housing through the at least one air intake vent, passes over the heat source and exits the ration housing at the at least one exhaust vent by natural convection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: GHT Global Heating Technologies, GmbH
    Inventors: Eric Cudnohoske, Giampaolo Vacca
  • Patent number: 8475160
    Abstract: Clean combustion and equilibration equipment and methods are provided to progressively deliver, combust and equilibrate mixtures of fuel, oxidant and aqueous diluent in a plurality of combustion regions and in one or more equilibration regions to further progress oxidation of products of incomplete combustion, in a manner that sustains combustion while controlling temperatures and residence times sufficiently to reduce CO and NOx emissions to below 25 ppmvd, and preferably to below 3 ppmvd at 15% O2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Vast Power Portfolio, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Andrew Campbell, David Hagen
  • Patent number: 8465275
    Abstract: A candle with a smooth exterior surface is configured so that it has a size and shape to substantially fill a hollow interior of the receptacle. The receptacle has an open mouth and a hollow interior having a smooth surface. The smooth exterior surface of the candle and smooth interior surface of the receptacle are in contact and slide past each other upon inserting the candle into the hollow interior to seat the candle on a moveable platform that is near a base end of the receptacle. After the candle is partially burned so an outer end thereof is burned away and displaced from the open mouth of the receptacle, the platform is advanced inward to move the outer end of the candle towards the open mouth to reposition the displaced outer end nearby the open mouth of the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Inventor: Suzetta Vonzell
  • Patent number: 8434470
    Abstract: An adjustable burn apparatus for a fireplace using a liquid or gel-type fuel. The apparatus includes an elongate housing with an elongate top opening into which an elongate removable fuel container is inserted. The removable fuel container has an elongate open top of a length approximating the length of the elongate housing, and an elongate cover which is hinged to the housing preferably along its long dimension and has an elongate flame opening. The hinged cover itself has a shutter slidably secured at its lower surface that is movable along positions opening, controlling and closing the flame opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Jensen Metal Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Seth Jensen
  • Patent number: 8434469
    Abstract: A portable radiant heater supplied by an associated fuel source comprises a housing having a handle for transporting the heater. A plenum in the housing receives fuel from the associated fuel source and mixes the fuel with air. A burner assembly includes a radiant surface that communicates with the plenum. A regulator limits the pressure of the associated propane source to approximately eleven inches water column, and an oxygen depletion system associated with the burner assembly automatically shuts off the heater at a predetermined oxygen content. A tank fitting with a position that can be adjusted relative to the regulator facilitates the installation of the associated fuel source to the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Enerco Group Inc.
    Inventor: Brian S. Vandrak
  • Patent number: 8434471
    Abstract: An indoor-outdoor fireplace apparatus including having a base unit which supports a pair of spaced elongate containers for a fuel of the liquid or gel type. In key embodiments, the two elongate fuel containers each have a short horizontal dimension. A shutter carrier slidably rests on the base-unit top and includes a frame to which a pair of elongate shutter plates are secured in spaced positions to cover the elongate fuel containers, such arrangement providing a visually-broad flame field with full on-and-off and adjustment control with a short shutter stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Jensen Metal Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Seth Jensen
  • Patent number: 8435029
    Abstract: An apparatus having a fuel container, a flame bowl, and a wick holder disposed proximate the flame bowl is disclosed. An open fuel filling port disposed in the flame bowl prevents entry of ignition sources into the fuel container but allows for the flow of liquid thereinto, whereby a user of the torch may refuel the torch without need to touch the torch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Lamplight Farms Incorporated
    Inventors: Daniel Masterson, Robert Giocolo, Paul Golko, John Uselding, William Tobin, Danny Luk
  • Patent number: 8414290
    Abstract: A device for igniting combustible means, especially solid combustibles such as wood, charcoal, and similar. The device includes a pressurized receptacle that is filled with a combustible medium, a spring-loaded actuating valve which selectively opens and closes a discharge port of the receptacle, preferably by applying pressure with a fingertip, and a top part that is joined to the discharge port and has a tubular extension having an adequate length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Inventor: Jonathan Gdynia
  • Patent number: 8398393
    Abstract: A gas fired catalytic heater is provided that foregoes the need for an electrical heating element to provide the activation energy for the hydrocarbon catalyst pad. An alcohol self-igniting catalyst pad is used to provide the activation energy to the hydrocarbon catalyst pad thereby removing dependence of the heater on an outside electrical energy source to initiate start-up of the heater. The catalyst pad includes a flexible wash coat; a noble metal dispersed on the wash coat; an anti-sintering element saturating the wash coat; and a catalyst promoter saturating the wash coat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: CCI Thermal Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Jarek Szynkarczuk, Kowlasar Misir, Harold A. Roozen
  • Patent number: 8397710
    Abstract: A boiler for a solar receiver includes a plurality of boiler panels arranged side by side with each other so that the panels form a boiler wall section. Piping fluidly connects the plurality of boiler panels together to route a working fluid through the boiler wall section from an inlet of the boiler wall section to an outlet of the boiler wall section. The piping and boiler panels are configured and adapted to route the working fluid through each of the boiler panels in a common direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Babcock Power Services Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Plotkin, Craig Gillum
  • Patent number: 8376733
    Abstract: A vented, gas-fired air heater especially designed for temporary heating applications includes an improved burner design providing effective air and gas mixing and efficient burning in the combustion chamber. Highly efficient heat exchanger including corrugated heat exchanger panels provides enhanced heat transfer characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Haul-All Equipment Ltd.
    Inventors: Sergiu Desi-Seulean, David Wiebe-Neufeldt
  • Patent number: 8356591
    Abstract: A boiler for a solar receiver includes a first wall of substantially coplanar side by side boiler panels. A plurality of contiguous panels of the first wall each have an inlet header thereof at a common first wall header elevation. A second wall includes substantially coplanar side by side boiler panels. A plurality of contiguous panels of the second wall each have an inlet header thereof at a common second wall header elevation. The second wall is adjacent to and angled with respect to the first wall so that one end panel of the first wall is adjacent to one end panel of the second wall to form a boiler wall corner. The inlet headers of the two end panels of the boiler wall corner are at different elevations relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Babcock Power Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Plotkin, Russell Ricci
  • Patent number: 8353279
    Abstract: A grill comprising a front, a rear, a grill base, a first grill door and a second grill door. The first grill door comprises an opening and is in hinged communication with the grill base. The second grill door is in communication with the first grill door via a hinge, which is disposed at a rear portion of the opening. When the second grill door is in a closed position, the second grill door seals the opening in the first grill door. A method of grilling comprising the steps of opening the first grill door, placing food on the grill base and closing the first grill door to cook food. The method further comprises the steps of opening the first and the second grill door during the cooking process, thereby creating a flue that urges smoke away from the front of the grill and towards the rear of the grill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Inventor: Tim Jackovitch
  • Patent number: 8353280
    Abstract: A grill comprising a front, a rear, a grill base, a grill lid and a grill door. The grill lid comprises an opening and is in hinged communication with the grill base. The grill door communicates with the grill lid via a hinge, which is disposed at a rear portion of the opening. When the grill door is closed, the grill door seals the opening in the grill lid. The grill lid includes a lifting-assist mechanism and the grill door has an opening-assist mechanism. A method of grilling comprising the steps of opening the grill lid, placing food on the grill base and closing the grill lid to cook food. The method further comprises the steps of opening the grill lid and the grill door during the cooking process, thereby creating a flue that urges smoke away from the front of the grill and towards the rear of the grill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Inventor: Timothy Jackovitch
  • Patent number: 8342165
    Abstract: An appliance with a Venturi based venting system is disclosed. The appliance includes a housing defining an airflow channel in flow communication with outside of the appliance, the airflow channel having a common channel with a diverging section; first and second heating units disposed in the housing; a first duct through which a first cavity of the first unit is in flow communication with the common channel, the first duct having a first outlet end disposed at least partially in the diverging section; a second duct through which a second cavity of the second unit is in flow communication with the common channel, the second duct having a second outlet end disposed in the diverging section; and a fan in flow communication with the common channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Derek Lee Watkins
  • Patent number: 8327839
    Abstract: An air quality instrumentation system for a concentrated solar power generation system using a fluid heat transfer medium includes a pipe, a window and a spectroscope. The pipe extends from the concentrated solar power generation system and contains system air from within the concentrated solar power generation system. The window is positioned within the pipe to permit light to pass through the pipe and the system air. The spectroscope is positioned adjacent the window to assess concentration of a constituent within the system air, the concentration of the constituent providing an indication of an operating condition of the concentrated solar power generation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew J. Zillmer, Joseph P. Carroll
  • Patent number: 8307821
    Abstract: A continuous moving bed solar steam generation and storage system is provided to generate steam for production processes after loss or reduction of received solar energy. The system includes a receiver 10 that receives a flowing stream of particulate material 30 that absorbs solar radiant energy 15 as it passes through beams of the energy 15 received from collectors 14. The heated stream of material 30 passes into a first chamber 40 to heat a tube bundle 42 therein. Heat from the particulate material 30 is transferred to the bundle 42, evaporating the water to generate, reheat (RH) and/or superheat (SH) steam 46. The cooled material 30 passes to a second chamber 60. The material 30 is drained from the second chamber 60 and carried to a cyclone 80 in the receiver 10. The material 30 drains from the cyclone 80 to complete the flow cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Glen D. Jukkola, Mark Palkes, Bard C. Teigen
  • Patent number: 8307819
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a solar element with solar cell carrier, frame and temperature control device, in which, in order to be simply producible, the temperature control device is an integral part of the frame. The invention relates furthermore to a method for the production of such solar element as well as the use of same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Inventor: Willi Bihler