Patents Examined by William Corboy
  • Patent number: 8302593
    Abstract: A gas burner assembly for a cooking appliance that includes a cooktop surface includes a gas burner assembly having a first gas burner including a first burner body. The first burner configured to be mounted on, and contact, the cooktop surface, and provide a cooking flame. The gas burner assembly also includes a second gas burner including a second burner body. The second burner configured to be mounted on, and contact, the cooktop surface. The second burner also configured to be concentric with the first burner and separated from the first burner by a distance at all points along the burners. The second burner body including at least one air passage defined therethrough that is configured to allow air to flow through the second burner and to the cooking flame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Paul Bryan Cadima
  • Patent number: 8302594
    Abstract: An air control regulator regulates the amount of air flowing into the inlet of a combustion chamber by causing flowing air to support a disc located in the air passage against the force of gravity. Air passes around the edges of the disc and is channeled into a plurality of airflows by ovoid depressions in the inner surfaces of the regulator forming a venturi chamber. By regulating the airflow into the combustion chamber, combustion efficiency is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Flamekeeper, LLC
    Inventor: Mark Wiliam Kendall
  • Patent number: 8291897
    Abstract: A material feed system for melter kettles which provides an area for a tender to load material to be charged into a melter kettle at a location which is safely remote from a flame conductor assembly that allows any flames or gasses that build up in melter kettle to be released. The material feed system also includes an air intake duct through which free air is allowed to enter into the melter kettle so as to equalize pressure with the atmosphere and/or burn off any superheated material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Inventor: James P. Shea
  • Patent number: 8281783
    Abstract: A thermal absorber including a light-transparent reservoir having an alkali metal received therein, a housing sealingly coupled to the reservoir to define an enclosed volume, the housing including a thermal barrier wall that divides the volume into a cold chamber and a hot chamber, the cold chamber including a sump having a drain hole in fluid communication with the hot chamber, and at least one AMTEC cell supported by the cell supporting surface, the AMTEC cell extending through the cold chamber and the hot chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Mark D. Bennett
  • Patent number: 8272376
    Abstract: A gas cooker control system includes an ignition controller including a touch button, a resistor, a first comparator, a second comparator and a third comparator, one end of the touch button connected to external power source, and the other end connected to first inputs of the first, second and third comparators, the resistor being connected between the inputs of the first, second and third comparators and ground, outputs of the first, second and third comparators being connected to an igniter, a gas valve and a system power source; a gas valve controller including a switch circuit connected to a power source, at least one gas valve circuit connected between the switch circuit and ground, and a protection circuit parallel to the at least on gas valve circuit; and a power and ignition controller driving device including a power source driving circuit, an ignition driving circuit and a comparison circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Shenzhen H & T Intelligent Control Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fei Ma, Fujun Cao, Jianwei Liu, Zhaobing Shou
  • Patent number: 8262386
    Abstract: Burner (5) for a gas burning hand tool (1), of the type comprising an elongated burner body (21), associated at opposite ends of the body with a gas injection zone (17) and a gas combustion zone (19). The gas injection zone (17) comprises at least one outlet orifice (35) terminating flush on the outside of the periphery (25) of the burner body (21), this periphery (25) promoting the circulation of the gas outside the burner body (21) to the combustion zone (19). Gas burning hand tool equipped with a burner of this type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Guilbert Express
    Inventors: Daniel Bouvier, Yves Guillou, Christophe Le Drappier, Laurent Tacchella
  • Patent number: 8256411
    Abstract: A bottle warmer includes a flexible tubular sleeve having a closed lower end and an open upper end. The open upper end is to receive a bottle therethough, and the closed lower end is to receive a bottom of the bottle thereagainst. An elastic band is carried by a medial portion of the flexible tubular sleeve to secure the medial portion to an adjacent portion of the bottle, and permit the open upper end to be folded back adjacent the closed lower end to define a pocket. A chemical heat source element is to be received by the pocket for warming the bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Inventor: Maureen Christy
  • Patent number: 8256409
    Abstract: A protruding portion 100 having a sloped surface 100b sloped against a ceiling surface is provided on the ceiling side of a cooking chamber 20. Superheated steam from a steam temperature-raising device 50 is blown off from first ceiling steam blowoff openings 101 provided in a flat surface 100a of the protruding portion 100 toward a bottom face within the cooking chamber 20, while the superheated steam is blown off from second ceiling steam blowoff openings 102 provided in a sloped surface 100b of the protruding portion 100 toward the side face within the cooking chamber 20. The superheated steam blown off from these steam blowoff openings 101 and 102 is effectively supplied to upper-and-back surface of a heating object 90 rested in the cooking chamber 20 so as to be spaced from the bottom face of the cooking chamber 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Matsubayashi, Hiroshi Hirano, Hideo Shimoda
  • Patent number: 8246345
    Abstract: A burner having an inlet (10) and a mixing path (20) is designed such that the inlet (10) has a rectangular cross section. The mixing path (20) adjacent thereto has a round cross section and a larger diameter, thus forming four transitional steps (25). The transitional steps (25) form four secondary vortices, thus improving the distribution of the fuel in the radial direction. The burner provides combustion with low emission of hazardous substances, and with low emission of nitrogen oxides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft und Raumfahrt E.V.
    Inventors: Harald Schütz, Guido Schmitz
  • Patent number: 8235707
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a control method of preventing backflow of exhaust gas into combustion chambers of boilers or water heaters that are not in operation for a multiboiler comprising a plurality of boilers or water heaters connected in line, each of which including a wind pressure sensor measuring wind pressure of air flowing into a combustion chamber and a controller controlling a fan supplying air into the combustion chamber on the basis of the wind pressure measured by the wind pressure sensor. The control method includes measuring wind pressures using the wind pressure sensors in the operating boilers and calculating an average wind pressure, using any controller as a master controller to determine a control amount of wind of the fans of non-operational boilers based on the average wind pressure, and operating the fans of the non-operational boilers on the basis of the control amount of wind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Kyungdong Networks Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Si-Hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 8235035
    Abstract: An inflatable solar energy collector. The device uses two elongated and pressure-stabilized air chambers with a trough-shaped reflecting surface in between. The curvature of the reflecting surface is adjusted by adjusting the differential pressure between the two air chambers. The device can be configured to provide a focal point outside the air chambers or inside the air chambers. For the version using the external focal point an external energy receiver is appropriately positioned. For the version using the internal focal point, the receiver is mounted inside one of the air chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Florida State University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Ian L. Winger, Sean A. Barton
  • Patent number: 8235034
    Abstract: A system including a solar heat collector and a heat receiving structure has a supply conduit extending through an airspace within the solar heat collector, to the heat receiving structure, and into the heat receiving structure. A temperature sensor within the airspace of the solar heat collector measures a temperature within the airspace of the solar heat collector and turns an air pump on to move air through the supply conduit it this temperature is too high. This air may be exhausted through a bypass valve instead of being pumped into the heat receiving structure. The heat receiving structure may include a pool with water heated by bubbles of hot air from the supply conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Inventor: B. Michael Flaherty
  • Patent number: 8210843
    Abstract: A gas torch includes a torch head assembly including a coupled base and a connected portion coupled to an outer periphery of the coupled base. A joint assembly, which is coupled to the coupled base and adapted for connecting to a nozzle of a bottled gas tank, includes a first joint member and a second joint member communicating with the first joint member. Two fasteners are inserted through the first and second joint members and engaged with the coupled base of the torch head. The joint assembly enables the torch head assembly to connect to different kinds of gas tanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Pro-Iroda Industreis, Inc.
    Inventor: Arlo Lin
  • Patent number: 8205609
    Abstract: A window with an integral solar heat-absorber is provided in a compact, low-cost package. Two transparent panes are separated from one another to provide a first passageway for receiving a working fluid. The periphery of the panes is secured in a frame in which a heat exchanger is also secured, the heat exchanger having a second passageway for the working fluid and a third passageway for a service fluid. The first and second passageways are coupled to make a working fluid circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: City University of Hong Kong
    Inventor: Tin Tai Chow
  • Patent number: 8202084
    Abstract: A method for preventing coagulation in an exhaust pipe of a boiler is provided. The method includes proportionally controlling combustion based on a quantity of supplied fuel with respect to an amount of air supplied to a burner, determining whether to enhance a heating power of a burner, based on a temperature of ambient air introduced into a blower, the temperature of the ambient air being sensed by an air temperature sensor, and enhancing the heating power of the burner to increase a temperature of exhaust gas, when it is determined that the sensed temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Kyungdong Navien Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong Bum Kim
  • Patent number: 8196572
    Abstract: The solar panel cone with rotating mirror includes a cone-shaped solar panel array that rests upon a base, and a rotating mirror. The rotating mirror rotates about the base via a series of gears and motor. The device includes an electrical converter that is wired to the motor and an electrical wire that supplies electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Inventor: David Edmunds
  • Patent number: 8197248
    Abstract: While ensuring technical safety and a short start-up time the invention permits the operation of autothermic partial oxidation of fuels processed into pulverized fuel such as lignite and bituminous coals, petroleum cokes, solid grindable carbon-containing residues, as well as solid-liquid suspensions or slurries, with a gasification agent containing oxygen at operating pressures of up to 8 MPa (80 bar). The selective configuration of the fail-safe monitoring of the gasification process only the supply of the main fuel is cut off. Through the continued operation of the pilot and ignition burner the reactor is kept at operating pressure and after the fault has been rectified fuel gasification can be restarted with the pilot and ignition burner without a complicated placement and pulling of a starter burner and subsequent pressurization of the reactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Norbert Fischer, Bernd Holle, Manfred Schingnitz
  • Patent number: 8191547
    Abstract: A solar-heating system having an inflatable solar collector connected to a housing that can be installed, e.g., in a sash window of a house. The housing has an air blower that draws air from the interior of the house and directs it into the inflatable solar collector, which is positioned outside the window. The collector has a flexible permeable membrane that serves as a transpired absorber of solar radiation. The air flowing through the collector is heated when it percolates through the membrane exposed to solar light. The heated air is returned back to the interior of the house, thereby providing space heating. In certain embodiments, in addition to serving as a transpired absorber, the membrane can also serve as an air filter that removes particles, odor-causing pollutants, and/or allergens from the drawn air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: S-2Tech LLC
    Inventor: Stephen T. Pellegrino
  • Patent number: 8191549
    Abstract: Collector tube for a solar collector, having an envelope tube, an absorber tube which is arranged within the envelope tube and into whose interior a heat carrier medium can be carried, characterized by an inner tubular element which is arranged within the absorber tube and has a thermal conductivity which is variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Inventor: Maik Schedletzky
  • Patent number: 8171928
    Abstract: A reciprocating solar engine includes a) a seesawing platform having a central fulcrum support upon which the platform is moveably positioned to reciprocally rotate through a predetermined arc b) a first solar heat-receiving closed container located on the platform on one side of the support and a second solar heat-receiving closed container located on the platform on a second side of the support; c) a connecting tube connecting the first container and the second container; d) a fluid contained within at least one of the first and the second container, the fluid being evaporable from solar heat and condensable from shading from solar heat; e) a roof above the platform, having at least one window of which is located above the first container and at least one window of above the second container; f) shuttering devices connected to the roof and movable so that one window is closed while the other is open and vice versa; and, g) shutter device controls functionally connected to the shutter device and the platform
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Inventor: Kenneth P. Glynn