Patents by Inventor William E. Tracey

William E. Tracey 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).

  • High uniformity heating
    Patent number: 8961169
    Abstract: A method includes the steps of operating a regenerative burner in cycles, including a firing cycle in which fuel and combustion air are discharged from the burner into a process chamber, and a nonfiring cycle in which a quantity of gas is withdrawn from the process chamber through a regenerative bed associated with the burner. The method further includes steps of detecting and responding to a temperature that differs from a predetermined temperature at a location in the process chamber. In a first step of responding to the detected temperature, a flue damper system is operated to vary a flow of gas within the process chamber relative to the location of the detected temperature. A second step of responding to the detected temperature reduces the quantity of gas to be withdrawn from the process chamber through the regenerative bed in a subsequent nonfiring cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Fives North American Combustion, Inc.
    Inventors: John N. Newby, Thomas F. Robertson, Justin R. Dzik, William E. Tracey
  • High Uniformity Heating
    Publication number: 20120251960
    Abstract: A method includes the steps of operating a regenerative burner in cycles, including a firing cycle in which fuel and combustion air are discharged from the burner into a process chamber, and a nonfiring cycle in which a quantity of gas is withdrawn from the process chamber through a regenerative bed associated with the burner. The method further includes steps of detecting and responding to a temperature that differs from a predetermined temperature at a location in the process chamber. In a first step of responding to the detected temperature, a flue damper system is operated to vary a flow of gas within the process chamber relative to the location of the detected temperature. A second step of responding to the detected temperature reduces the quantity of gas to be withdrawn from the process chamber through the regenerative bed in a subsequent nonfiring cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: FIVES NORTH AMERICAN COMBUSTION, INC.
    Inventors: John N. Newby, Thomas F. Robertson, Justin R. Dzik, William E. Tracey