Patents by Inventor Glenn W. Kowald
Glenn W. Kowald 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).
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Patent number: 9714775Abstract: Systems, tools, and methods are presented that enable a plurality of turbulators to enhance heat transfer within a heat exchanger of a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The plurality of turbulators each include a ribbon member having a variable pattern formed over a length. In one instance, the variable pattern of the ribbon member includes a plurality of bends defining intervals of alternating pitch. The intervals progressively increase in dimension as the ribbon member is traversed over the length. In another embodiment, the intervals contain apertures whose area increases as the length is traversed. Other systems, tools and methods are presented.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2014Date of Patent: July 25, 2017Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.Inventors: Kirankumar Muley, Kapil Sahu, Glenn W. Kowald, Ajay C. P. Swornalatha, Ian Burmania, John Whitesitt, Donald Zimmer
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Patent number: 9657964Abstract: A condensation trap comprising an inlet chamber, a vent chamber and an outlet chamber. The inlet chamber is configured to receive condensate fluid through an external opening therein. The vent chamber is in fluid communication with the inlet chamber via a first passageway that includes an internal opening of the inlet chamber. The internal opening is located substantially at an opposite end of the vent chamber as the external opening. The outlet chamber is in fluid communication with the vent chamber via a second passageway that includes an internal opening in a sidewall of the vent chamber and an interior opening in an end of the outlet chamber. The outlet chamber is configured to transmit the condensate fluid through an exterior opening located at an opposite end of the outlet chamber. A vent volume portion is greater than a total volume of an internal space of the inlet chamber.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2015Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.Inventors: Hans J. Paller, Glenn W. Kowald
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Patent number: 9625177Abstract: Provided herein are embodiments of a multistage gas furnace, a controller therefor and a computer-usable medium having non-transitory computer readable instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor to perform a method for operating a gas furnace. In one embodiment, the gas furnace includes: (1) a burner, (2) a circulation fan and (3) a furnace controller. The furnace controller having: (3A) an interface configured to receive heating calls and a blower control signal, the blower control signal corresponding to an operating speed of the circulation fan and (3B) a processor configured to respond to the heating calls and the blower control signal by setting and adjusting a gas input rate for the burner that is based on the blower control signal and that corresponds to a discharge air temperature determined by a dedicated discharge air sensor associated with the furnace.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2012Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.Inventors: Peter Hrejsa, Glenn W. Kowald, Darko Hadzidedic
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Patent number: 9618231Abstract: The disclosure provides a controller for a multistage gas furnace, a multistage gas furnace and computer readable medium for performing a method to operate a furnace. In one embodiment, the controller includes: (1) an interface configured to receive a heating call and (2) a corrosion reducer configured to ignite the gas furnace at a high fire operation based on if an indoor circulating fan of the gas furnace is active.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2011Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.Inventors: Glenn W. Kowald, Hans J. Paller
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Publication number: 20170080532Abstract: An alternative-fuel gas orifice, a gas furnace configured to employ the same and a method of designing a gas orifice. In one embodiment, the gas orifice includes: (1) a body having an aperture extending therethrough and including: (1a) a metering neck having a cross-sectional area such that a given flow rate of a gas is established when the gas is delivered to the gas orifice at a given alternative-fuel delivery pressure and (1b) a diffuser having a cross-sectional area larger than the cross-sectional area of the metering neck and a length such that the gas achieves a substantially laminar flow before exiting the diffuser.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2016Publication date: March 23, 2017Applicant: Lennox Industries Inc.Inventors: Hans J. Paller, Glenn W. Kowald
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Patent number: 9561564Abstract: An HVAC burner box includes a burner bank, a manifold and an air director located within an enclosure. The burner bank is oriented such that an outlet end of the burner bank is directed toward a first end of the enclosure. The manifold is located within the enclosure and adjacent an inlet end of the burner bank. The air director has a diffuser that is coupled to a side of the enclosure. The diffuser includes a plurality of openings located therethrough. The diffuser is configured to direct a first portion of a received airstream through the opening and toward the burner bank. The diffuser is further configured to send a second portion of the received airstream toward the manifold.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2015Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.Inventors: Glenn W. Kowald, Hans J. Paller
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Patent number: 9541303Abstract: An alternative-fuel gas orifice, a gas furnace configured to employ the same and a method of designing a gas orifice. In one embodiment, the gas orifice includes: (1) a body having an aperture extending therethrough and including: (1a) a metering neck having a cross-sectional area such that a given flow rate of a gas is established when the gas is delivered to the gas orifice at a given alternative-fuel delivery pressure and (1b) a diffuser having a cross-sectional area larger than the cross-sectional area of the metering neck and a length such that the gas achieves a substantially laminar flow before exiting the diffuser.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2010Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.Inventors: Hans J. Paller, Glenn W. Kowald
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Publication number: 20160305689Abstract: A header box, a furnace and a blocked condensation protection system are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the header box includes: (1) a first channel having a first channel supply port positioned to be in fluid communication with an inlet of a combustion air blower and a first pressure port couplable to a first input of a pressure sensing device, the combustion air blower and the pressure sensing device associated with the cold end header box and (2) a second channel having a second channel supply port positioned to be in fluid communication with the inlet of the combustion air blower, a second pressure port couplable to a second input of the pressure sensing device and a pressure reference inlet, the second channel in fluid communication with the first channel and configured to have about a same pressure as the first channel when the pressure reference inlet is blocked.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2016Publication date: October 20, 2016Applicant: Lennox Industries Inc.Inventors: Glenn W. Kowald, Hans J. Paller
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Patent number: 9429338Abstract: A header box, a furnace and a blocked condensation protection system are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the header box includes: (1) a first channel having a first channel supply port positioned to be in fluid communication with an inlet of a combustion air blower and a first pressure port couplable to a first input of a pressure sensing device, the combustion air blower and the pressure sensing device associated with the cold end header box and (2) a second channel having a second channel supply port positioned to be in fluid communication with the inlet of the combustion air blower, a second pressure port couplable to a second input of the pressure sensing device and a pressure reference inlet, the second channel in fluid communication with the first channel and configured to have about a same pressure as the first channel when the pressure reference inlet is blocked.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2010Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.Inventors: Glenn W. Kowald, Hans J. Paller
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Publication number: 20160223198Abstract: A controller for a gas furnace, a computer-usable medium for implementing a method and a gas furnace are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the controller includes: (1) an interface configured to receive a heating call and (2) a processor configured to enable an inducer of the gas furnace at a low speed based on the heating call and ignite the gas furnace at a high fire operation when determining a low fire pressure switch of the gas furnace is open.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2016Publication date: August 4, 2016Applicant: Lennox Industries Inc.Inventors: Glenn W. KOWALD, Darcy Q. EASTERLING
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Patent number: 9335045Abstract: A controller for a gas furnace, a computer-usable medium for implementing a method and a gas furnace are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the controller includes: (1) an interface configured to receive a heating call and (2) a processor configured to enable an inducer of the gas furnace at a low speed based on the heating call and ignite the gas furnace at a high fire operation when determining a low fire pressure switch of the gas furnace is open.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2010Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.Inventors: Glenn W. Kowald, Darcy Q. Easterling
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Publication number: 20160074978Abstract: An HVAC burner box includes a burner bank, a manifold and an air director located within an enclosure. The burner bank is oriented such that an outlet end of the burner bank is directed toward a first end of the enclosure. The manifold is located within the enclosure and adjacent an inlet end of the burner bank. The air director has a diffuser that is coupled to a side of the enclosure. The diffuser includes a plurality of openings located therethrough. The diffuser is configured to direct a first portion of a received airstream through the opening and toward the burner bank. The diffuser is further configured to send a second portion of the received airstream toward the manifold.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2015Publication date: March 17, 2016Inventors: Glenn W. KOWALD, Hans J. PALLER
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Publication number: 20160040921Abstract: A condensation trap comprising an inlet chamber, a vent chamber and an outlet chamber. The inlet chamber is configured to receive condensate fluid through an external opening therein. The vent chamber is in fluid communication with the inlet chamber via a first passageway that includes an internal opening of the inlet chamber. The internal opening is located substantially at an opposite end of the vent chamber as the external opening. The outlet chamber is in fluid communication with the vent chamber via a second passageway that includes an internal opening in a sidewall of the vent chamber and an interior opening in an end of the outlet chamber. The outlet chamber is configured to transmit the condensate fluid through an exterior opening located at an opposite end of the outlet chamber. A vent volume portion is greater than a total volume of an internal space of the inlet chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2015Publication date: February 11, 2016Applicant: LENNOX INDUSTRIES INC.Inventors: Hans J. Paller, Glenn W. Kowald
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Publication number: 20150377512Abstract: Systems, tools, and methods are presented that enable a plurality of turbulators to enhance heat transfer within a heat exchanger of a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The plurality of turbulators each include a ribbon member having a variable pattern formed over a length. In one instance, the variable pattern of the ribbon member includes a plurality of bends defining intervals of alternating pitch. The intervals progressively increase in dimension as the ribbon member is traversed over the length. In another embodiment, the intervals contain apertures whose area increases as the length is traversed. Other systems, tools and methods are presented.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2014Publication date: December 31, 2015Inventors: Kirankumar Muley, Kapil Sahu, Glenn W. Kowald, Ajay C. P. Swornalatha, Ian Burmania, John Whitesitt, Donald Zimmer
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Patent number: 9212820Abstract: An HVAC burner box includes a burner bank, a manifold and an air director located within an enclosure. The burner bank is oriented such that an outlet end of the burner bank is directed toward a first end of the enclosure. The manifold is located within the enclosure and adjacent an inlet end of the burner bank. The air director has a diffuser that is coupled to a side of the enclosure. The diffuser includes a plurality of openings located therethrough. The diffuser is configured to direct a first portion of a received airstream through the opening and toward the burner bank. The diffuser is further configured to send a second portion of the received airstream toward the manifold.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2010Date of Patent: December 15, 2015Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.Inventors: Glenn W. Kowald, Hans J. Paller
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Patent number: 9170029Abstract: A condensation trap comprising an inlet chamber, a vent chamber and an outlet chamber. The inlet chamber is configured to receive condensate fluid through an external opening therein. The vent chamber is in fluid communication with the inlet chamber via a first passageway that includes an internal opening of the inlet chamber. The internal opening is located substantially at an opposite end of the vent chamber as the external opening. The outlet chamber is in fluid communication with the vent chamber via a second passageway that includes an internal opening in a sidewall of the vent chamber and an interior opening in an end of the outlet chamber. The outlet chamber is configured to transmit the condensate fluid through an exterior opening located at an opposite end of the outlet chamber. A vent volume portion is greater than a total volume of an internal space of the inlet chamber.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2010Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.Inventors: Hans J. Paller, Glenn W. Kowald
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Patent number: 8683993Abstract: A CEHB, a furnace and a method of constructing a furnace are disclosed. In one embodiment, the CEHB includes: (1) a fixed orifice configured to regulate air flow through a heat exchanger of the furnace, wherein a combustion air inducer induces the air flow and (2) a negative pressure channel including a negative channel supply port that communicates with an inlet of the combustion air inducer, a negative pressure port configured to connect to a negative input port of a pressure switch and bleed ports configured to reduce a pressure received through the negative channel supply port at the inlet to a targeted range at the negative pressure port, the pressure switch configured to monitor a combustion pressure through the heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2010Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Lennox Industries, Inc.Inventors: Hans J. Paller, Glenn W. Kowald
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Publication number: 20140061322Abstract: Provided herein are embodiments of a multistage gas furnace, a controller therefor and a computer-usable medium having non-transitory computer readable instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor to perform a method for operating a gas furnace. In one embodiment, the gas furnace includes: (1) a burner, (2) a circulation fan and (3) a furnace controller. The furnace controller having: (3A) an interface configured to receive heating calls and a blower control signal, the blower control signal corresponding to an operating speed of the circulation fan and (3B) a processor configured to respond to the heating calls and the blower control signal by setting and adjusting a gas input rate for the burner that is based on the blower control signal and that corresponds to a discharge air temperature determined by a dedicated discharge air sensor associated with the furnace.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2012Publication date: March 6, 2014Applicant: LENNOX INDUSTRIES INC.Inventors: Peter Hrejsa, Glenn W. Kowald, Darko Hadzidedic
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Patent number: 8646442Abstract: A clamshell heat exchanger for use in a gas-fired direct combustion furnace. The exchanger comprises a first clamshell half and a second clamshell half that when joined with the first clamshell half forms a passageway having an inlet and an outlet. The passageway includes a U-bend located between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the U-bend includes a re-entrant sectional profile.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2010Date of Patent: February 11, 2014Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.Inventors: Shailesh S Manohar, Glenn W Kowald, Floyd E Cherington, Hans J Paller, John W Whitesitt, Jianmin Zhang
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Publication number: 20130040253Abstract: The disclosure provides a controller for a multistage gas furnace, a multistage gas furnace and computer readable medium for performing a method to operate a furnace. In one embodiment, the controller includes: (1) an interface configured to receive a heating call and (2) a corrosion reducer configured to ignite the gas furnace at a high fire operation based on if an indoor circulating fan of the gas furnace is active.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2011Publication date: February 14, 2013Applicant: Lennox Industries, IncorporatedInventors: Glenn W. Kowald, Hans J. Paller