Patents by Inventor Thomas J. Beal

Thomas J. Beal 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: 6543437
    Abstract: A drafthood assembly for inclusion within a vent stack for a direct venting stove or fireplace, converting the direct venting stove or fireplace for use with a natural venting flue. The assembly includes an air intake section for feeding ambient room air into the combustion chamber and an exhaust gas section for feeding ambient room air into the products of combustion that are exhausted from the combustion chamber in order to cool the exhaust gas products so that a B-vent type flue can be used to carry the exhaust gas products out of the dwelling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: CFM Corporation
    Inventors: Duong Luu, Huynh Hy Co, Patrick Kelly, Thomas J. Beal
  • Patent number: 6295981
    Abstract: A fireplace adapted for attachment to a flue pipe assembly including an exhaust pipe and a surrounding fresh air pipe is provided. The fireplace comprises an interior housing. The interior housing forms a combustion chamber. The fireplace also comprises a top wall, a rear wall and side walls. These walls define an exterior housing about the combustion chamber. A combustion air flowpath is defined within the housing through which air for combustion is brought from outside the housing into the combustion chamber. The fireplace also comprises a top port formed in the top wall and a rear port formed in the rear wall. Each of the top and rear ports include a first portion that communicates with the combustion chamber and a second portion that communicates with the combustion air flowpath. Finally, the fireplace comprises a vent pipe assembly. The vent pipe assembly includes an inlet air pipe member and an outlet air pipe member. The outlet air pipe member is connectable with the selected port at the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: CFM Majestic Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Beal, Michael G. Catenazzo
  • Patent number: 5947113
    Abstract: The invention relates to a direct vent gas fireplace adapted for attachment to a concentric flue pipe assembly having an exhaust pipe and fresh air pipe. A top wall, rear wall, bottom wall and side walls define a combustion chamber. A gas burner is disposed in the combustion chamber. A slanted flue attachment wall is attached to and extends between the top wall and rear wall. The slanted flue attachment wall is disposed at obtuse angles relative to the top wall and rear wall. A first pipe member is orthogonally attached to the flue attachment wall and is in fluid communication with the combustion chamber for conveying combustion products from the combustion chamber. A second pipe member having a diameter larger than the first pipe member is disposed concentrically around the first pipe member. The first and second pipe members define an annular space therebetween forming an air intake duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: The Majestic Products Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Beal, Albert K. Teakell, Robert E. Cabrera, Michael E. Marusak
  • Patent number: 5673683
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an induced draft fireplace including a plurality of outer walls defining an outer housing. The outer walls include at least one outer side wall and an outer top wall. A plurality of inner walls define a combustion chamber. The inner walls include at least one inner side wall and an inner top wall having an outlet opening. A room air circulation channel is defined by and disposed between the outer housing and the inner housing. The room air circulation channel has an inlet and an outlet. A heat exchanger is disposed in the room air circulation channel, and includes an inlet connected to and in fluid communication with the outlet opening, and an outlet. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of walls defining at least two flow paths extending in different directions, the at least two flow paths defining a total change in flow direction within the heat exchanger of at least 180.degree.. A fan having an inlet is connected to and in fluid communication with the heat exchanger outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: The Majestic Products Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Beal, Robert E. Cabrera
  • Patent number: 5320086
    Abstract: The invention relates to a direct vent gas fireplace adapted for attachment to a concentric flue pipe assembly having an exhaust pipe and fresh air pipe. A top wall, rear wall, bottom wall and side walls define a combustion chamber. A gas burner is disposed in the combustion chamber. A slanted flue attachment wall is attached to and extends between the top wall and rear wall. The slanted flue attachment wall is disposed at obtuse angles relative to the top wall and rear wall. A first pipe member is orthogonally attached to the flue attachment wall and is in fluid communication with the combustion chamber for conveying combustion products from the combustion chamber. A second pipe member having a diameter larger than the first pipe member is disposed concentrically around the first pipe member. The first and second pipe members define an annular space therebetween forming an air intake duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Assignee: Majco Building Specialties, L.P.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Beal, Albert K. Teakell, Robert E. Cabrera
  • Patent number: 5243965
    Abstract: A heat producing gas log apparatus includes a blower having an inlet and an outlet for circulating air through the log apparatus. A gas burner has a plurality of openings for emitting combustible gas to produce a flame. At least one air supply channel has an inlet opening and an outlet opening. The inlet opening is disposed at the front and bottom of the heat producing gas log apparatus and receives air, and the outlet opening is in fluid communication with the blower inlet. At least one heat exchanger tube is disposed above at least a portion of the gas burner and has an inlet end and an outlet end. The inlet end is in fluid communication with the blower outlet, and the outlet end is disposed generally coplanar with the inlet opening of the at least one air supply channel at the front and bottom of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignee: Majco Building Specialties, L.P.
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Maitland, Thomas J. Beal, Roy E. Mundy
  • Patent number: 5081981
    Abstract: A gas fireplace burner assembly which produces a yellow flame and simulates the appearance and pattern of the yellow flames produced by a natural wood log fire includes a log grate for supporting a plurality of artificial logs. The log grate is formed with a stepped configuration and has a back wall and opposite side walls, each of which has an opening formed through its thickness to allow secondary air to pass therethrough and into an interior space defined by the walls of the log grate. The log grate also includes a slotted grate front member. At least a front and rear artificial log is supported on the log grate. A burner tube is also supported by the log grate and has front and rear portions which are disposed in parallel. A front flame deflector is interposed between and spaced apart from the grate front member and the front portion of the burner tube and defines first and second channels for secondary air to flow through.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1992
    Assignee: Majco Building Specialties, L.P.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Beal
  • Patent number: 4976253
    Abstract: Method and gas burner assembly for producing among the arrangement of non-combustible logs, and essentially yellow flame pattern with substantially low levels of carbon monoxide production. In general, method hereof employs a gas burner assembly having one or more burner each having a plurality of gas jets. The burner assembly is disposed between the combustion chamber of fireplace enclosure which contains a predetermined volume of combustion chamber air which is continuously provided from outside of the combustion chamber. Non-combustible fireplace logs are arranged above the gas burner assembly so as to provide one or more flow paths between the burner and adjacent logs, for allowing free flow of combustion chamber air through the flow paths and about the burners. Flow of gas is provided through the burners so that the gas flows out of the gas jets and mixes with the combustion chamber air about the jets of the burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1990
    Assignee: Majco Building Specialties, L.P.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Beal, Tadeusz Karabin, Roy E. Mundy