Patents by Inventor Michael C. Mitchell

Michael C. Mitchell 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).

  • Publication number: 20210102033
    Abstract: A free standing dispersant film is provided, including: a partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate; a poly(ethylene oxide); a polyalkylene glycol; a plasticizer; a dispersant polymer; optionally, a poly(isobutylene-co-maleic anhydride) copolymer, wherein the poly(isobutylene-co-maleic anhydride) copolymer is at least partially neutralized; and optionally, an optional additive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Inventors: Randara Pulukkody, Scott Backer, Afua Sarpong Karikari, Michael C. Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20210033287
    Abstract: A water heater system includes a water heater having a first water outlet and a second water outlet. The water heater system further includes a flow detection device coupled to the first water outlet to detect a water flow through the first water outlet. The water heater system also includes a flow control valve fluidly coupled to the second water outlet. The flow control valve is configured to control a flow of water through the second water outlet based on whether the water flow through the first water outlet is detected by the flow detection device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: Raheel A. Chaudhry, Michael C. Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20200224927
    Abstract: A water heating system can include a first tank-based water heater having a first inlet line and a first outlet line, where the first inlet line provides unheated water to the first tank, and where the first outlet line draws heated water from the first tank. The system can also include a first tankless water heater having a second outlet line, where the second outlet line of the first tankless water heater provides the heated water to a first heated water demand. The system can also include a first valve that controls an amount of the unheated water flowing through the first inlet line to the first tank-based water heater. The system can further include a controller operatively coupled to the first valve, where the controller controls a position of the first valve based on the first heated water demand and a first capacity of the first tankless water heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Raheel A. Chaudhry, David I. Vega, Michael C. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 10677494
    Abstract: A water heater with a leak detection system includes a leak sensor assembly that is disposed in an insulation cavity between an inner storage tank and an outer protective jacket of the water heater. The leak sensor assembly is configured to detect water that leaks from the storage tank. Further, the water heater includes a barrier that is disposed in the insulation cavity and wrapped around the inner storage tank to channel the water that leaks from the storage tank towards the leak sensor assembly, and prevent the water that leaks from the storage tank from flowing through an insulation material that is disposed in the insulation cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Joseph D. Gardner, Michael C. Mitchell, Timothy D. Scott, William Jason Hall
  • Publication number: 20200166245
    Abstract: A water heater monitoring and notification method includes determining, by a controller of a water heater system, a deviation of a duration of a pre-purge operation from a pre-purge duration average value. The method further includes determining, by the controller of the water heater system, a deviation of a flame current from a flame current average value and determining, by the controller of the water heater system, a deviation of a pulse-width-modulation (PWM) parameter from a PWM parameter average value. The method also includes providing a notification related to a combustion system of the water heater system based on at least the deviation of the duration of the pre-purge operation from the pre-purge duration average value, the deviation of the flame current from the flame current average value, and the deviation of the PWM parameter from the PWM parameter average value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Raheel Chaudhry, Michael C. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 10605486
    Abstract: A water heating system can include a first tank-based water heater having a first inlet line and a first outlet line, where the first inlet line provides unheated water to the first tank, and where the first outlet line draws heated water from the first tank. The system can also include a first tankless water heater having a second outlet line, where the second outlet line of the first tankless water heater provides the heated water to a first heated water demand. The system can also include a first valve that controls an amount of the unheated water flowing through the first inlet line to the first tank-based water heater. The system can further include a controller operatively coupled to the first valve, where the controller controls a position of the first valve based on the first heated water demand and a first capacity of the first tankless water heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Raheel A. Chaudhry, David I. Vega, Michael C. Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20200062913
    Abstract: A sealing composition for use in unit dose packages is provided, including: 70 to 98 wt % water; 1 to 30 wt % of a hydrogen bonding component; and 1 to 30 wt % of a complex forming component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Gyongyi Gulyas, An Kaga, Thomas Fitzgibbons, Afua Sarpong Karikari, Michael C. Mitchell, Xin Jin, Joseph Kao
  • Patent number: 10571153
    Abstract: A water heater monitoring and notification method includes determining, by a controller of a water heater system, a deviation of a duration of a pre-purge operation from a pre-purge duration average value. The method further includes determining, by the controller of the water heater system, a deviation of a flame current from a flame current average value and determining, by the controller of the water heater system, a deviation of a pulse-width-modulation (PWM) parameter from a PWM parameter average value. The method also includes providing a notification related to a combustion system of the water heater system based on at least the deviation of the duration of the pre-purge operation from the pre-purge duration average value, the deviation of the flame current from the flame current average value, and the deviation of the PWM parameter from the PWM parameter average value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: RHEEM MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Raheel A. Chaudhry, Michael C. Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20200010783
    Abstract: A free standing film is provide, including: a partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate; a poly(ethylene oxide); a polyalkylene glycol; a plasticizer; optionally, a poly(isobutylene-co-maleic anhydride) copolymer; and optionally an optional additive. Unit dose packages including the free standing film are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: Afua Sarpong Karikari, Xin Jin, Joseph Kao, An Kaga, Gyongyi Gulyas, Michael C. Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20190195533
    Abstract: A water heater with a leak detection system includes a leak sensor assembly that is disposed in an insulation cavity between an inner storage tank and an outer protective jacket of the water heater. The leak sensor assembly is configured to detect water that leaks from the storage tank. Further, the water heater includes a barrier that is disposed in the insulation cavity and wrapped around the inner storage tank to channel the water that leaks from the storage tank towards the leak sensor assembly, and prevent the water that leaks from the storage tank from flowing through an insulation material that is disposed in the insulation cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Joseph D. Gardner, Michael C. Mitchell, Timothy D. Scott, William Jason Hall
  • Publication number: 20190195534
    Abstract: A water heater monitoring and notification method includes determining, by a controller of a water heater system, a deviation of a duration of a pre-purge operation from a pre-purge duration average value. The method further includes determining, by the controller of the water heater system, a deviation of a flame current from a flame current average value and determining, by the controller of the water heater system, a deviation of a pulse-width-modulation (PWM) parameter from a PWM parameter average value. The method also includes providing a notification related to a combustion system of the water heater system based on at least the deviation of the duration of the pre-purge operation from the pre-purge duration average value, the deviation of the flame current from the flame current average value, and the deviation of the PWM parameter from the PWM parameter average value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Raheel A. Chaudhry, Michael C. Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20190170398
    Abstract: A water heating system can include a first tank-based water heater having a first inlet line and a first outlet line, where the first inlet line provides unheated water to the first tank, and where the first outlet line draws heated water from the first tank. The system can also include a first tankless water heater having a second outlet line, where the second outlet line of the first tankless water heater provides the heated water to a first heated water demand. The system can also include a first valve that controls an amount of the unheated water flowing through the first inlet line to the first tank-based water heater. The system can further include a controller operatively coupled to the first valve, where the controller controls a position of the first valve based on the first heated water demand and a first capacity of the first tankless water heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: Raheel A. Chaudhry, David I. Vega, Michael C. Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20190024943
    Abstract: An integrated valve and flow sensor for a water heater can have a valve body that includes a valve and a flow sensor for measuring the flow of water through the valve. The integrated valve and flow sensor can be disposed within a fitting that can be attached to a water heater. An actuator for opening and closing the valve can be attached to the fitting. A diffuser can also be attached to the fitting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: Timothy D. Scott, Michael C. Mitchell, Raheel A. Chaudhry, William T. McLemore, Hector J. Donastorg