By Other Than Temperature Of Water Patents (Class 122/14.21)
  • Patent number: 11313589
    Abstract: The water heater may be configured to execute a normal operation in which a heating means is continuously operated in an ON state in a case where a required heat quantity is greater than or equal to a minimum heat quantity. The water heater may be configured to execute an intermittent operation in which the heating means is alternately and repeatedly operated in the ON state and an OFF state repeatedly in a case where the required heat quantity is less than the minimum heat quantity. The water heater may be configured to change a distribution ratio of a flow control mechanism in the normal operation and in the intermittent operation. An operating speed of the flow control mechanism in the intermittent operation may be faster than an operating speed of the flow control mechanism in the normal operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: RINNAI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Rikiya Yuge
  • Patent number: 11293669
    Abstract: A heat balancing system for a natural draft gas burning appliance having a flue. When the appliance is in a standby mode, a main burner is shut off and the pilot light remains on. Temperature in the heat exchanger (e.g., temperature of water in a heater tank) may be decreased or increased, respectively, by opening or closing a damper in a flue as needed. If opening the damper does not sufficiently reduce the temperature of the heat exchanger, then the pilot light may be shut off to further reduce the temperature. The pilot light may be turned on again to bring up the temperature. There may be a control or controller to operate the damper to maintain the temperature of the exchanger within a certain range. Electrical power may be provided for the system from a power line, a storage device, or other source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Ademco Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Anderson, Shanna Lorraine Leeland
  • Patent number: 11085667
    Abstract: A water heater that includes a cylindrical storage tank and at least one heating element, is modeled using a one-dimensional model that includes: a vertical stack of disks representing the water volume in the cylindrical storage tank, and a stack of annular segments surrounding the vertical stack of disks. Various temperature measurements are determined via resistance calculations of the at least one heating element. The stack of annular segments represents the cylindrical wall of the cylindrical storage tank. The one-dimensional model may be used by a condition-based maintenance system comprising an electronic data processing device configured to detect a failure mode present in the water heater based on an output of the water heating model component. Some illustrative failure modes include insulation disturbance, heating element failure, excessive sediment buildup, or a drip tube rupture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Jason J McCullough, Michael A Jones, Eric L Rehberg
  • Patent number: 10895404
    Abstract: A water heater can include a tank. The water heater can also include a heat exchanger that includes multiple flue tube segments disposed within the tank, where the flue tube segments include a thermally-conductive material. The heat exchanger can further include a heating system that heats a fluid to create a heated fluid, where the heating system further circulates the heated fluid through the flue tube segments, where the flue tube segments absorb thermal energy from the heated fluid and subsequently dissipate the thermal energy into the tank to convert the unheated water to the heated water. The water heater can also include a controller coupled to the heating system, where the controller operates the heating system outside of a normal heating cycle when the controller determines that condensation has accumulated in the flue tube segments, where operating the heating system outside of the normal heating cycle removes the condensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Raheel A. Chaudhry
  • Patent number: 10677461
    Abstract: A burner control valve with speed control includes a speed control assembly for metering loading pressure into a loading pressure chamber to prevent pilot light blow out and/or backfire in a downstream burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: EMERSON PROCESS MANAGEMENT REGULATOR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Weyer, Jr., Madhusudhan Reddy Kotragouda Basappa
  • Patent number: 10502476
    Abstract: An exemplary method protects a delicate device from potential damage from shock or vibration. A material in a liquid state is placed in contact with the delicate device. The liquid material is cooled causing it to transition to a solid state which stabilizes the delicate device in contact with the solid material against shock and vibration. The solid state material is heated causing it to sublimate into a gas thus releasing the delicate device for operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jonathan W. Arenberg
  • Patent number: 10422523
    Abstract: A combustion system includes an ionizer configured to eject charges (or accept charges) for uptake by a combustion reaction to cause a combustion reaction to carry a majority charge or voltage. The ionizer includes an inner electrode, a dielectric body surrounding the inner electrode, and one or more conductive or semi-conductive inner electrodes disposed on the surface of the dielectric body. The inner and outer electrodes are configured to be in a capacitive relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: CLEARSIGN COMBUSTION CORPORATION
    Inventor: Christopher A. Wiklof
  • Patent number: 10386092
    Abstract: A water heater includes: a burner; a heat exchanger; a fan for supplying air to the burner and emitting combustion gas having passed through the heat exchanger to outside of the water heater; and a drainage water discharge path connected to the heat exchanger. The drainage water discharge path has a water-sealing structure that is water-sealed by drainage water. The water heater further includes a control unit: having a water-seal determination unit giving permission that the water heater can operate in a normal mode based on a condition that the drainage water discharge path has been water-sealed; and issuing an instruction to cause the burner to intermittently operate for a time period until the water-seal determination unit gives the permission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: NORITZ CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sakiko Kimura, Takeshi Oohigashi
  • Patent number: 10386061
    Abstract: The current invention disclose a method and apparatus for production of hot water or steam in a firetube boiler, said method comprising the steps of producing a first flue gas using a first stage of a burner in a first pass of a firetube boiler; passing at least a portion of said first flue gas through a second pass of said boiler, wherein said second pass comprises a plurality of firetubes; routing said portion of said first flue gas to a second stage of said burner to reduce NOx emissions from said second stage of said burner; producing a second flue gas from said second stage of said burner in a third pass of said boiler; passing said second flue gas through a fourth pass of said boiler, wherein said fourth pass comprises a plurality of firetubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Preferred Utilities Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Jianhui Hong
  • Patent number: 10364984
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a burner system including at least one Coanda surface and at least two electrodes that are biased in a manner to influences a location of fuel flow relative to the at least one Coanda surface and related methods. In an embodiment, a burner system includes at least one Coanda surface, at least one nozzle positioned and configured to emit a fuel flow at least proximate to the at least one Coanda surface, at least two electrodes, and a voltage source operably coupled to the at least two electrodes. The voltage source may be configured to bias the at least two electrodes to generate an electric field at least proximate to the at least one Coanda surface that influences a location of the fuel flow and/or a flame relative to the at least one Coanda surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: CLEARSIGN COMBUSTION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joseph Colannino, Igor Alexeevitch Krichtafovitch, Christopher A. Wiklof
  • Patent number: 10330052
    Abstract: A water heater has a gas burner in a combustion chamber below a tank. The burner has a venturi tube oriented in a collection housing, which receives a mixture of air and fuel from a duct at least partially protruding from a periphery of an exterior wall of the water heater. In some embodiments, the duct abuts the venturi tube within a collection housing in the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: RHEEM MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Gary A. Elder, Tanjir Ratul
  • Patent number: 10302312
    Abstract: A water heater that includes a cylindrical storage tank, at least one heating element, and at least one temperature sensor is modeled using a one-dimensional model that includes: a vertical stack of disks representing the water volume in the cylindrical storage tank, and a stack of annular segments surrounding the vertical stack of disks. The stack of annular segments represents the cylindrical wall of the cylindrical storage tank. The one-dimensional model may be used by a condition-based maintenance system comprising an electronic data processing device configured to detect a failure mode present in the water heater based on an output of the water heating model component. Some illustrative failure modes include insulation disturbance, heating element failure, excessive sediment buildup, or a drip tube rupture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Douglas Thornton, Bradley C. Glenn, James H. Saunders, Jason W. Black, Eric Rehberg
  • Patent number: 10103309
    Abstract: A combustion system is provided, including at least one combustion module and at least one source of combustible gas and oxidizing gas, the combustion module including a body including a single solid piece of material including two combustion chambers configured to be supplied with the at least one combustible gas and said one oxidizing gas; a first connector in contact with a first end of the body and being heat insulating, including first supply conduits configured to supply a combustible gas to the two combustion chambers, and first evacuation conduits configured to evacuate combustion gas from the two combustion chambers; and a second connector in contact with a second end of the body and being heat insulating, including second supply conduits configured to supply a combustible gas and an oxidizing gas to the two combustion chambers, and second evacuation conduits configured to evacuate combustion gas from the two combustion chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives
    Inventors: Emmanuel Ollier, Ioannis Mantzaras
  • Patent number: 10066835
    Abstract: A combustion system includes an electrically actuated flame location control mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: CLEARSIGN COMBUSTION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Douglas W. Karkow, Joseph Colannino, Igor A. Krichtafovitch, Robert E. Breidenthal, Christopher A. Wiklof
  • Patent number: 9797600
    Abstract: The invention relates to a water heating device, comprising a burner (20) and a flame current measuring device (100) for measuring a flame current, which measuring device comprises two electrodes and a voltage source (14), wherein each of the poles (18, 19) of the voltage source is connected to one of the electrodes. The water heating device further comprises a heat exchanger (40) which is electrically insulated relative to the burner. The burner and the heat exchanger here form the electrodes of the flame current measuring device. The heat exchanger functioning as electrode can be earthed (41). The measured flame current can be used to determine the excess air factor of the combustion. The water heating device can further comprise an air/fuel controller for controlling the air/fuel ratio, wherein the air/fuel controller uses the determined excess air factor to control the air/fuel ratio. The invention also relates to a method for measuring a flame current in a flame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Intergas Heating Assets B.V.
    Inventor: Harm Hendrik Barels
  • Patent number: 9625165
    Abstract: An indirect-heating hot water apparatus is designed to correctly detect clogging in a secondary water circuit at low costs. A hot water apparatus is provided with: a primary water circuit in which water heated by absorbing heat from a refrigerant at a heat exchanger circulates; a secondary water circuit connected to the primary water circuit via a heat exchanger, in which water circulates; and a tank connected to the secondary water circuit, in which the water circulating in the secondary water circuit is stored. The hot water apparatus detects the temperature of the water circulating in the primary water circuit and the temperature of the water stored in the tank. When the temperature of the water circulating in the primary water circuit is at or above a first threshold and the temperature of the water stored in the tank is at or below a second threshold, the hot water apparatus issues a notification indicating that the secondary water circuit is clogged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hirokazu Minamisako, Kei Takeyama
  • Patent number: 9562681
    Abstract: A burner may include a dielectric body configured to hold one or more electrodes in proximity to a combustion reaction. The dielectric body may be cast from a refractory material. The one or more electrodes may be cast into the dielectric body. The dielectric body and the electrodes may be configured for installation, removal, and replacement as a unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: CLEARSIGN COMBUSTION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joseph Colannino, Igor A. Krichtafovitch, Christopher A. Wiklof
  • Publication number: 20150144074
    Abstract: A water heating apparatus includes a burner, a heat exchanger for heating hot and cold water with use of heat from the burner, a scale detector for detecting occurrence of scale clogging in the heat exchanger, a notifying unit for notifying an error when the scale detector detects occurrence of a scale greater than or equal to a predetermined amount, and a controller performing a control of allowing the notifying unit to notify an error and prohibiting combustion operation of the burner when the scale detector detects occurrence of a scale greater than or equal to the predetermined amount. The controller is configured to start a cleaning mode for cleaning inside the heat exchanger when the controller detects shifting operation to the cleaning mode after the combustion operation of the burner is prohibited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: NORITZ CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yu FUJIMOTO, Scott ISAKSEN, Bronwyn PLANASCH
  • Publication number: 20150114314
    Abstract: A boiler having a combustion and exhaust unit having a burner for combusting fuel to generate heat, an exhaust port for discharging the combustion residue outside the boiler, and an exhaust pipe connected to the exhaust port, for guiding the combustion residue into the open air; a circulation unit for circulating hot water to provide hot water and heat for the user; a heat exchange unit for absorbing the heat generated from the burner to make hot water and for supplying the hot water to the circulation part, with both ends of the heat exchange part being connected to the circulation part; and a control unit including an outlet temperature sensor arranged in the outlet of the heat exchange unit, an inlet temperature sensor arranged in the inlet of the heat exchange unit, and a controller for calculating the temperatures measured by the inlet and outlet temperature sensors so as to control whether to operate the boiler or not.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: KYUNGDONG NAVIEN., LTD.
    Inventor: Chang Heoi Heo
  • Publication number: 20150107534
    Abstract: A water heater, which includes a water pipe, a combustor, and a dry-boiling protector. The dry-boiling protector includes a first sensor, a second sensor, and a controller. The first sensor senses a resistance of water in the water pipe, and the second sensor senses a flow rate of the water in the water pipe. The controller is electrically connected to the first sensor and the second sensor to stop the combustor to heat water when a resistance sensed by the first sensor is higher than a critical resistance for a predetermined period, and a flow rate sensed by the second sensor is not zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: GRAND MATE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: CHUNG-CHIN HUANG, CHIN-YING HUANG, HSIN-MING HUANG, HSING-HSIUNG HUANG, YEN-JEN YEH, KUAN-CHOU LIN
  • Publication number: 20150090197
    Abstract: The aim of the invention is to devise a flow control for a continuous-flow water heater, which is used to control the flow of gas to a burner of a heat exchanger as a function of the passage of water, in which only one operating element has to be actuated. Because of the reduction in the apertures through the housing wall of the flow control, at the same time the risk leaks occurring is reduced. Furthermore, the expenditure in manufacturing is to be minimized. To this end, in addition to the operating element (8), a switching element (9) is rotatably mounted on a spindle (7) projecting from the water-carrying housing (5), wherein a rotary movement of the operating element (8) can be transmitted via drivers (10; 11) to the switching to element (9), which also has a switching contour (13) by means of which a fixedly arranged microswitch (14) can be actuated, by means of which an electronic ignition and monitoring device (3) can be electrically actuated, by means of which gas flow to the burner can be shut off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: Mertik Maxitrol GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Peter Albrecht
  • Patent number: 8985063
    Abstract: When a detection temperature by a hot-water tank thermister (42) has been equal to or lower than a re-heating determination temperature over at least a re-heating determination time, a tank controller (50) performs a sterilization process by heating hot water within a hot-water tank (30) by means of a heat pump unit (60); and when the detection temperature by the hot-water tank thermister (42) has been equal to or lower than a determination temperature for prohibiting the use of hot water in the hot-water tank over at least a determination time for prohibiting the use of hot water in the hot-water tank, the tank controller (50) performs only a temperature regulation control via heating while keeping a hot-water flow regulation valve (34) in a closed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Rinnai Corporation
    Inventor: Ikuro Adachi
  • Publication number: 20150053151
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a fluid flow sensor and low flow cut-off device and an associated method for its operation that is easily integrated into a fluid delivery and/or fluid control system for a variety of appliances, such as boilers and water heaters. The fluid flow sensor and low flow cut-off device can determine a fluid flow rate in or to an appliance and whether that fluid flow rate meets or exceeds a predetermined fluid flow rate threshold for the safe and/or efficient operation of the appliance and, if the threshold is not met, disable the appliance from operating or continuing to operate under such conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: Therm-O-Disc, Incorporated
    Inventor: Timothy Graff
  • Publication number: 20150000614
    Abstract: Provided is a gas-air mixing device for a combustion apparatus which effectively controls the amount of gas and air supplied to a burner so as to improve the turn-down ratio, thereby improving burner reliability. The gas-air mixing device includes: a housing having one side coupled to a turbo fan; an air supplying unit provided on the other side of the housing, and configured of a first air supply part and a second air supply part; a gas supplying unit configured of a first gas supply part and a second gas supply part; and an opening/closing means which closes the second air supply part and the second gas supply part when a small amount of heat is needed to block the flow of air and gas, and opens the second air supply part and the second gas supply part when a large amount of heat is needed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: KYUNGDONG NAVIEN CO., LTD
    Inventor: Jun Kyu Park
  • Patent number: 8904971
    Abstract: A method of controlling combustion of a gas appliance includes the following steps: a) Read a first burning data in a database; b) Burn gas according to the first burning data; c) Obtain a burning efficiency of the gas appliance; and d) Compare the burning efficiency with a predetermined value, and repeat the step b to the step d when the burning efficiency is higher than the value, or read a second burning data in the database and burn gas according to the second burning data when the burning efficiency is lower than the value. The present invention provides plural stages of burning according to the main component of the gas to be burned to increase the total burning efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Grand Mate Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Chung-Chin Huang, Chin-Ying Huang, Hsin-Ming Huang, Hsing-Hsiung Huang
  • Patent number: 8740611
    Abstract: A fuel-fired high capacity liquid heating appliance, representatively a boiler or a water heater, has a fluid heat exchanger extending around a combustion chamber into which first and second fuel burners extend, the first and second burners respectively having associated blowers for supplying combustion air thereto. Illustratively, the combustion chamber is oval-shaped, with the burners extending into opposite ends the combustion chamber If one of the burners is not firing while the other burner is firing, a control system starts the non-firing burner's blower, to protect it from overheating by the firing burner, if the control system senses an excess temperature in the non-firing burner. The heat exchanger comprises a series of fluid receiving tubes extending between baffle-free header structures iteratively sized to equalize fluid flow rates through the heat exchanger tubes over a wide flow rate range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Raymond I. Hallit
  • Publication number: 20140137812
    Abstract: A pressure probe assembly for attachment to a venturi of a gas-fired appliance, where the venturi includes a body having an inlet end, an outlet end, and a wall defining a mixing chamber extending from the inlet end to the outlet end about an axis. A support member is detachably coupled to the mixing chamber. A first pressure probe is coupled to the support member and has a first pressure tap disposed substantially adjacent the axis. A second pressure probe is coupled to the support member and has a second pressure tap disposed substantially adjacent the mixing chamber wall. Also disclosed is a gas-fired appliance, such as a water heater, including the pressure probe assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventors: Brian T. Branecky, Janice Arline Fitzgerald
  • Publication number: 20140120484
    Abstract: In a fuel-fired water heater with a standing pilot burner and a motorized flue damper, a specially designed controller is utilized to prevent overheating of water stored in the tank portion of the water heater caused by the hot combustion gases continuously generated by the pilot burner during standby periods of the water heater in which its main fuel burner is not being fired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Raheel A. Chaudhry, Jozef Boros, Gianpiero Turrin
  • Patent number: 8635997
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling gas to gas-fired appliances are disclosed. An illustrative system can include a modulating gas valve adapted to supply gas to a burner unit, an inducer fan adapted to produce a combustion air flow at the burner unit, a pressure reducing element in fluid communication with the gas valve and adapted to output at least one pressure signal for sensing the combustion air flow outputted by the inducer fan, and a controller for controlling the speed of the inducer fan. The pressure reducing element can include a venturi tube, flow nozzle, or other suitable device capable of producing pneumatic signals that can be used by the gas valve to modulate the gas supplied to the burner unit. By pneumatically linking the gas valve to the actual combustion air flow, the gas valve can be operated over a wide range of firing rates by adjusting the speed of the inducer fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Schultz, Glenn R. Bergum
  • Publication number: 20140000534
    Abstract: High intensity combustion and low intensity combustion are carried out together, to stabilize flames and to hold down the emission of carbon monoxide. An air-fuel mixture outlet member (back plate) that includes a single or a plurality of outlet(s) (air-fuel mixture outlet(s)) out of which an air-fuel mixture (GA) flows is include, and a metal fiber knitting body (metal knit) that covers the air-fuel mixture outlet member is included. Therefor, the air-fuel mixture, which is made to flow out of the outlet(s), passes through the metal fiber knitting body (metal knit) and is combusted, a flame of low intensity (flame) is generated together with a flame of high intensity (flame) by combustion of the air-fuel mixture, and the flame of low intensity holds the flame of high intensity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventors: Katsumi Naitoh, Yasunori Katoh, Jun Aiso, Kentaro Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20130291807
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a gas control apparatus for a boiler, which has a simple structure and enables easy assembly, thus improving productivity and reducing manufacturing costs, therefore enhancing the competitiveness of a product. The gas control apparatus includes a solenoid retracting or ejecting a rod in response to application of power. A cylindrical support unit is coupled to an upper portion of the solenoid and has a suction port and an exhaust port on a side surface and an upper surface thereof, respectively, with a groove being formed along a lower edge of the support unit. A separator is provided between the solenoid and the support unit in such a way that an edge thereof is inserted into the groove. An opening and shutting plate is mounted to an upper end of the rod and opens and shuts the exhaust port of the support unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: UNICK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chang-Hoon Lee, Kuk-Chan Moon, Seong-Jun Kim, Kang-Woo Park
  • Publication number: 20130284115
    Abstract: A premix combustion device of a gas burner applicable to a domestic gas boiler or water heater, includes a gas mixture supply pipe to supply gas mixture to the gas burner, and a gas supply and an air supply connected with the gas mixture supply pipe. A damper is provided at a predetermined position in the gas mixture supply pipe to regulate the amount of the gas mixture to be supplied to the gas burner, the degree of opening of the damper is adjusted by an electrically operated valve controlled by a control signal from a controller, and a valve disc arranged to open and close the gas mixture supply pipe according to operation of the valve is provided with a plurality of holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: Daesung Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun Sang Kim, Myung Hoon Lee
  • Publication number: 20130284116
    Abstract: An on demand tankless water heater system that is capable of quickly delivering water within a desired temperature range. The tankless water heater provides a hybrid heating method that contains a primary heating system and a secondary heating system disposed in a buffer tank that cooperate to facilitate control of output water temperature during water usage. A pressure differential switch detects low flow demand and allows the secondary heating system to provide immediate heating to the water. This secondary heating system provides a faster temperature response and fine tuning of output water temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Sridhar Deivasigamani, Sivaprasad Akasam
  • Publication number: 20130247843
    Abstract: Systems and methods for venting a water heater are disclosed. The system includes a water heater, a blower, a draft hood, and a thermal switch. The blower has a blower inlet positioned to receive combustion gas from the water heater and a blower outlet positioned to exhaust combustion gas. The draft hood defines a passageway positioned to receive combustion gas from the blower outlet. The draft hood defines a relief opening to allow gas to enter into or exit from the passageway of the draft hood. The thermal switch detects a blockage in the passageway of the draft hood and deactivates the water heater when a blockage is indicated. A method for venting a water heater includes blowing exhaust gas outward through a blower outlet of the water heater, and receiving the exhaust gas blown through the outlet with a draft hood positioned on top of the blower outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: Bradford White Corporation
    Inventors: Michael W. Gordon, Eric Truskoski
  • Patent number: 8485138
    Abstract: A water heater may be configured to temporarily increase its hot water capacity by heating water to a higher boost temperature. In some instances, the water heater may include a main controller that can accept a boost request from a remote controller, and thus may temporarily provide additional hot water capacity without, for example, requiring a homeowner to go down to the basement, out to the garage, or wherever the water heater happens to be to make manual adjustments to the water heater settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Shanna Lorraine Leeland
  • Publication number: 20130139765
    Abstract: A method of controlling combustion of a gas appliance includes the following steps: a) Read a first burning data in a database; b) Burn gas according to the first burning data; c) Obtain a burning efficiency of the gas appliance; and d) Compare the burning efficiency with a predetermined value, and repeat the step b to the step d when the burning efficiency is higher than the value, or read a second burning data in the database and burn gas according to the second burning data when the burning efficiency is lower than the value. The present invention provides plural stages of burning according to the main component of the gas to be burned to increase the total burning efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: GRAND MATE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: CHUNG-CHIN HUANG, Chin-Ying Huang, Hsin-Ming Huang, Hsing-Hsiung Huang
  • Publication number: 20130104814
    Abstract: Hot water heater system (such as, for example, a gas-powered hot water heater system) that includes a self-powered automatic pilot light and which is not connected to any external source of electrical power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Inventor: Mark REYMAN
  • Publication number: 20130081581
    Abstract: A fuel-fired water heater is shut down when a predicted steady state combustion chamber temperature is below a known threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Inventor: Richard D. Cook
  • Publication number: 20130042822
    Abstract: Water heating system and method including a boiler, a combustion chamber, and a burner housed inside the chamber. A conduit fluidly coupled to the combustion chamber to channel gas into the chamber wherein the burner causes combustion of gas. An oxygen sensor is coupled to the chamber and positioned within the chamber to detect an amount of oxygen in the products of combustion. The oxygen sensor outputs data representative of the amount to a control unit. The control unit controls the feedback control of the water heating system and wherein the combustion of the gas in the chamber is controllable by the control unit at least based on the data. A heat exchanger system is coupled to the chamber to heat water in the heat exchanger with the products. At least one flue coupled to the heat exchanger system to channel products out of the heat exchanger system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: Aerco International, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald A. Fioriti, Hakan Bjornson
  • Publication number: 20130025546
    Abstract: According to the required amount of heating, a controller of a combustion apparatus exercises selective on-off switching control on capacity control switching valves for the supplying of gas to three different combustion areas partitioned respectively by a group of three combustion burners, a group of five combustion burners and a group of nine combustion burners, whereby the three combustion areas can selectively be burned, thereby the combustion capacity is changed and switched to any of a plurality of combustion capacity levels. A combustion exhaust temperature sensor is disposed in the vicinity of the inlet of an exhaust stack. Judgment temperatures corresponding respectively to combustion capacity levels for combustion exhaust high-temperature abnormality judgment are set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: NORITZ CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinichi OKAMOTO, Masato Doyama
  • Patent number: 8333584
    Abstract: A fuel-fired appliance is shut down when a predicted steady state combustion chamber temperature is below a known threshold. The predicted steady state temperature is based on combustion chamber temperatures during heat up of the burner and appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Beckett Gas, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard D. Cook
  • Publication number: 20120208139
    Abstract: A fuel-fired high capacity liquid heating appliance, representatively a boiler or a water heater, has a fluid heat exchanger extending around a combustion chamber into which first and second fuel burners extend, the first and second burners respectively having associated blowers for supplying combustion air thereto. Illustratively, the combustion chamber is oval-shaped, with the burners extending into opposite ends the combustion chamber If one of the burners is not firing while the other burner is firing, a control system starts the non-firing burner's blower, to protect it from overheating by the firing burner, if the control system senses an excess temperature in the non-firing burner. The heat exchanger comprises a series of fluid receiving tubes extending between baffle-free header structures iteratively sized to equalize fluid flow rates through the heat exchanger tubes over a wide flow rate range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Raymond I. Hallit
  • Publication number: 20120180736
    Abstract: A water heater for heating potable water used in a boat or vehicle has operating components which are easily accessible from one end of the heater. The heater further includes a water level sensor to indicate water quantity and a coolant stack which terminates in an exhaust stack which can have either of two configurations for installation flexibility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2012
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL THERMAL INVESTMENTS LTD.
    Inventor: EDGAR C. ROBINSON
  • Publication number: 20120160186
    Abstract: A device for controlling a gas supply to a burner includes a main duct, which is provided with at least one main valve including a valve seat and associated shutter with a control for opening the seat in opposition to a resilient recall member. A pilot duct leads from the main duct to supply a pilot burner, the main duct includes a magnetic thermoelectric safety unit which is manually or automatically armed, acting on the pilot duct to enable gas to flow to the pilot burner when armed. The pilot duct includes a pressure regulator having a shutter with a membrane control, the membrane subject to pressure regulated by the regulator and to a calibration pressure determined in a calibration chamber of the regulator. The device includes a fluid connector between the calibration chamber and the main valve to provide a pressure signal correlated with the gas supply pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: SIT LA PRECISA S.P.A. CON SOCIO UNICO
    Inventor: Gianpiero TURRIN
  • Patent number: 8196552
    Abstract: A system to reduce standby losses in a hot water heater is presented. The system utilizes a safety relay valve between the combination gas controller and the burner. The safety relay valve bypasses gas to a damper actuator valve to position a flapper valve located over the flue pipe. Once the flapper valve has opened to ensure combustion, the gas is allowed to flow back to the safety relay valve. Some of the bypass gas may be diverted to boost the pilot or to supply a booster. The safety relay valve is then opened to allow the gas supply to the burner. Once the burner is turned off by the combination gas controller, the small amount of bypass gas bleeds out of the damper actuator valve to close the flapper valve to reduce standby losses through the flue pipe, and to allow the safety relay valve to close tightly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Invensys Controls Australia Pty. Ltd.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Mervyn Whitford, Brendon John Ruwoldt
  • Publication number: 20120037096
    Abstract: A combustion apparatus includes combustion means generating combustion exhaust by combustion of fuel, heat exchange means exchanging heat of the combustion exhaust, and exhaust dilution unit supplying dilution air after the heat exchange by the heat exchange means and diluting the combustion exhaust after the heat exchange, and controls a temperature of the combustion exhaust after the heat exchange below a predetermined temperature by dilution by air supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: TAKAGI INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akito Watanabe, Mituru Sano, Toshinobu Muku
  • Patent number: 8111980
    Abstract: A water heater including a water inlet line having an inlet opening that introduces cold water to a tank, a water outlet line having an outlet opening that withdraws heated water from the tank, and a heating element. The water heater further includes a control circuit. The heating element can be an electrical resistance heating element, a gas heating element, or a combination thereof. In one construction, the gas heating element includes a first combustive section and a second combustive section separately controlled from the first combustive section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: AOS Holding Company
    Inventor: Kenneth A. Bradenbaugh
  • Patent number: 8104201
    Abstract: A control method and device for the automatic water-replenishing for a boiler iron producing continuous steaming is disclosed. The method, which comprises a normally-closed pressure switch that can control power on/off of the boiler with respect to pressure and a normally-closed thermostat for maintaining a boiler thermostatic state, comprises the following steps: (1) determining whether the thermostat switch is off; if yes, step (3) is carried out, and if no, step (2) is carried out; (2) detecting whether the steam is being ejected; if yes, the electromagnetic valve will be opened to eject steam, while simultaneously pumping a relatively small amount of water into the boiler; (3) controlling the pump to pump a large amount of water into the boiler. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in step (2), the quantity of water is slightly less than the quantity of water that is ejected as steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Tsann Kuen (China) Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ruifeng Cai, Quanxi Liu
  • Patent number: 7996182
    Abstract: A water heater is provided with monitor/diagnostic display apparatus that selectively provides a user with visual or other type of indicia of the overall efficiency of the water heater. The apparatus includes a monitoring unit that may be mounted on the water heater, and a display unit that may be mounted either on the water heater or remotely therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Bruce A. Hotton, Walter T. Castleberry
  • Publication number: 20110162591
    Abstract: A method is provided for commissioning a combustion control system for controlling operation of a boiler combustion system. The method includes the step of mapping a plurality of sets of coordinated servo positions for the fuel flow control device and the air flow control device at a plurality of selected firing rate points between a minimum firing rate and a maximum firing rate by using an algorithm and an iterative process to identify the coordinated air and fuel actuator positions instead of a trial and error method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventors: Jinqiang Fan, Muhidin A. Lelic, Guido Poncia, David S. Liscinsky, Meredith B. Colket, III, Tom Kennedy