Patents by Inventor Hugh E. Vinson

Hugh E. Vinson 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: 6485294
    Abstract: In a gas-burning apparatus, such as a furnace, a device for reducing NOx emissions includes a cup member mounted proximate to an inlet to a combustion chamber of the apparatus and a perforate member attached to the cup member and located in the combustion chamber at a predetermined distance inwardly from the inlet. The perforate member has a plurality of holes to define a mesh pattern through which the flame and other products of combustion are constrained to pass within the combustion chamber. The perforate member acts as a heat sink to reduce the flame temperature, thereby inhibiting NOx production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Lennox Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew S. Riepenhoff, Glenn W. Kowald, Randy D. Smith, Hugh E. Vinson
  • Publication number: 20020076669
    Abstract: In a gas-burning apparatus, such as a furnace, a device for reducing NOx emissions includes a cup member mounted proximate to an inlet to a combustion chamber of the apparatus and a perforate member attached to the cup member and located in the combustion chamber at a predetermined distance inwardly from the inlet. The perforate member has a plurality of holes to define a mesh pattern through which the flame and other products of combustion are constrained to pass within the combustion chamber. The perforate member acts as a heat sink to reduce the flame temperature, thereby inhibiting NOx production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventors: Matthew S. Riepenhoff, Glenn W. Kowald, Randy D. Smith, Hugh E. Vinson
  • Patent number: 5768091
    Abstract: A circuit breaker mounting bracket is comprised of a generally upright support member, a base member extending generally perpendicularly from a bottom of the support member, a flange depending from a distal end of the base member at an angle less than 90.degree., and a brace member depending obliquely from the back of the support member. The flange is adapted to be secured to a support surface, such as a deck within an air conditioning or furnace cabinet. The brace member and the flange cooperate to maintain the bracket in a rigid, upright position within the cabinet. The bracket includes a din rail comprising two generally L-shaped flanges integrally formed with the support member, whereby one or more circuit breakers are mountable in a fixed position relative to the bracket. A C-shaped channel is formed on the support member between the L-shaped flanges for receiving two retaining members, which inhibit lateral movement of the circuit breaker(s) mounted on the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Lennox Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventors: Hugh E. Vinson, Gary L. Sapp, Kevin A. Albers
  • Patent number: 5544645
    Abstract: A combination water heating and space heating apparatus includes a water heating unit and a space heating unit releasably coupled with the water heating unit. The water heating unit has a water storage tank and a helically wound tubular heat exchanger inside the tank for exhausting products of combustion from a combustion chamber located in a top part of the tank and for transferring heat from the products of combustion to the surrounding water. The space heating unit is an air handler with an hydronic heat exchanger coil and a blower for blowing air over the coil. Hot water is supplied from the tank to the coil and is returned to the tank by means of a water circulation pump located in the space heating unit. Air blown over the coil is heated by the hot water flowing over the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Armijo, Tony R. Baker, Floyd E. Cherington, Delbert S. Christopher, David J. Moody, James J. Mullen, Hugh E. Vinson, John L. Warren, Robert C. Beilfuss, John H. Wiker