Patents by Inventor Brian C. Jones

Brian C. Jones has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5606864
    Abstract: An ice bank control for use in controlling the size of an ice bank in an ice water tank in a beverage dispenser utilizes an especially constructed probe having a sealed tubular member containing an electrolyte treated water well therein. An electrode extends into the water well and a ground is in contact with the water well so that the probe senses the existence of ice at a point within the tank while the tubular member insulates the electrode and ground from contact, electrical and physical, with the contents of the ice water tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Wilshire Partners
    Inventor: Brian C. Jones
  • Patent number: 5553746
    Abstract: A plain water boost system for a carbonated beverage dispenser provides for a pressure boost of plain water to be dispensed without the need for a second pump. A pressure regulator protected by an isolation valve is actuated when plain water is dispensed to reduce the output pressure of the carbonator input pump to an appropriate level for dispensing pressure boosted plain water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Wilshire Partners
    Inventor: Brian C. Jones
  • Patent number: 5502977
    Abstract: A removable ice bank probe assembly includes a guide tube mounted through an opening in the deck of a refrigeration unit and secured to an evaporator coil of the unit disposed within a water bath of a post-mix beverage dispenser. The removable assembly also includes an elongated rod for supporting an ice bank probe at a bottom end thereof and a transverse arm at the top end thereof which fits in a key slot in the top of the guide tube in order to accurately align the probe assembly within the refrigeration unit. The upper transverse arm may be gripped by the fingers of an operator to quickly remove the probe when repair or servicing is needed. The probe may then be easily reinserted into the guide tube and positioned via the transverse arm and slot in a proper alignment with respect to the evaporator coils which form the ice bank which it monitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: Lawrence B. Ziesel, Brian C. Jones, Peter Currier
  • Patent number: 5004046
    Abstract: A compact and efficient heat exchanger is defined by three coaxial tubes, the intermediate tube being spirally fluted and in intimate contact with inner and outer tubes. The resulting three walled tubular structure defines a spiral vent passage and double wall separation between inner and outer flow paths. The three walled structure may be formed into an evaporator coil for use in a water cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1991
    Assignee: Thermodynetics, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian C. Jones
  • Patent number: 4474119
    Abstract: An apparatus for feeding solids into the bed of a fluidized bed furnace (18). The feed solids are separated into a fine fraction and a coarse fraction. The coarse fraction is supplied to fluidized bed (16) in an in-bed pneumatic transport feed system or in an over-the-bed feed system. The fine fraction as well as fluidizing air are supplied to fines admission zone (24) wherein the fine fraction and fluidizing air are thoroughly mixed. The mixture of the fine fraction of feed solids and the fluidizing air is then passed upwardly through air distribution means (38) into fluidized bed (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1984
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian C. Jones
  • Patent number: 4434726
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for feeding solids into the bed of a fluidized bed furnace (18). The feed solids are separated into a fine fraction and a coarse fraction. The coarse fraction is supplied to fluidized bed (16) in an in-bed pneumatic transport feed system or in an over-the-bed feed system. The fine fraction as well as fluidizing air are supplied to fines admission zone (24) wherein the fine fraction and fluidizing air are thoroughly mixed. The mixture of the fine fraction of feed solids and the fludizing air is then passed upwardly through air distribution means (38) into fluidized bed (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1984
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian C. Jones
  • Patent number: 4416418
    Abstract: A fluidized bed combustion system particularly suitable for use in a residential heating system comprising a fluidized bed combustor housing a combustion chamber wherein crushed fuel is burned to generate hot flue gas, a heat exchanger disposed outside of the combustor in the flow path of the flue gas, a particulate collector for removing fine particles entrained in the flue gas before the flue gas is vented to the atmosphere, and an induced draft fan for venting the flue gas to the atmosphere and drawing fluidizing air and recirculated flue gas through the combustion chamber. The combustor is uncooled and heavily insulated so as to provide a substantially adiabatic combustion chamber therein in order to minimize heat loss therefrom. Electric heating means are disposed within the fluidizing region of the combustion chamber to provide the capability of heating the slumped bed during shutdown to maintain bed temperature above the ignition point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1983
    Inventors: Stephen L. Goodstine, Brian C. Jones
  • Patent number: 4335662
    Abstract: A fluidized bed for the combustion of coal, with limestone, is replenished with crushed coal from a system discharging the coal laterally from a station below the surface level of the bed. A compartment, or feed box, is mounted at one side of the bed and its interior separated from the bed by a weir plate beneath which the coal flows laterally into the bed while bed material is received into the compartment above the plate to maintain a predetermined minimum level of material in the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1982
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian C. Jones
  • Patent number: 4329324
    Abstract: A method of burning a sulfur-containing fuel in a fluidized bed of sulfur oxide sorbent wherein the overall utilization of sulfur oxide sorbent is increased by comminuting the bed drain solids to a smaller average particle size, preferably on the order of 50 microns, and reinjecting the comminuted bed drain solids into the bed. In comminuting the bed drain solids, particles of spent sulfur sorbent contained therein are fractured thereby exposing unreacted sorbent surface. Upon reinjecting the comminuted bed drain solids into the bed, the newly-exposed unreacted sorbent surface is available for sulfur oxide sorption, thereby increasing overall sorbent utilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1982
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian C. Jones
  • Patent number: 4259911
    Abstract: A fluidized bed boiler feed system for the combustion of pulverized coal. Coal is first screened to separate large from small particles. Large particles of coal are fed directly to the top of the fluidized bed while fine particles are first mixed with recycled char, preheated, and then fed into the interior of the fluidized bed to promote char burnout and to avoid elutriation and carryover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1981
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian C. Jones