Patents Assigned to British Gas
  • Patent number: 11621563
    Abstract: A method of controlling energy supply in an energy distribution network is disclosed. The energy distribution network comprises an energy generation facility adapted to supply energy to the energy distribution network and an energy consumer adapted to consume energy from the energy distribution network. The method comprises, at the energy generation facility: detecting a curtailment condition, the curtailment condition indicating that the energy generation facility should curtail its supply of energy to the energy distribution network; in response to the curtailment condition, transmitting, via a communications link, a request to increase energy consumption to the energy consumer; receiving a reply message from the energy consumer via the communications link; and controlling energy output from the generation facility in dependence on the reply message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: British Gas Trading Limited
    Inventor: David Parish
  • Patent number: 11128145
    Abstract: A method of controlling energy supply in an energy distribution network comprising a first energy generation facility located at a first site and a second energy generation facility located at a second site is disclosed, where the first and second energy generation facilities are adapted to supply energy to the energy distribution network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: British Gas Trading Limited
    Inventor: David Parish
  • Patent number: 11015827
    Abstract: A method of controlling an environmental control system, where the environmental control system is configured to operate in accordance with a control schedule, in a scheduled mode of operation. At a control device that is associated with the environmental control system, a user can receive input indicative of a boost mode. In the boost mode, the environmental control system can disregard the control schedule and operate in accordance with a boost setting, with a target temperature. Responsive to the boost mode, further user input may be used to set the target temperature for boost mode. Boost mode can be activated based on the target temperature, and environmental control can be performed based on the target temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: British Gas Trading Limited
    Inventors: Nicola Combe, Curtis John Collinsworth, Brett Derek Middleton, Hideaki Matsui
  • Publication number: 20190234636
    Abstract: A method of controlling an environmental control system, where the environmental control system is configured to operate in accordance with a control schedule, in a scheduled mode of operation. At a control device that is associated with the environmental control system, a user can receive input indicative of a boost mode. In the boost mode, the environmental control system can disregard the control schedule and operate in accordance with a boost setting, with a target temperature. Responsive to the boost mode, further user input may be used to set the target temperature for boost mode. Boost mode can be activated based on the target temperature, and environmental control can be performed based on the target temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Applicant: British Gas Trading Limited
    Inventors: Nicola Combe, Curtis John Collinsworth, Brett Derek Middleton, Hideaki Matsui
  • Patent number: 10222079
    Abstract: A battery-powered environmental control and/or sensor device is disclosed. The device includes a mounting plate arranged to be affixed to a support surface; and a main body including a battery compartment. The main body is adapted to be releasably secured to the mounting plate, with the battery compartment being substantially inaccessible when the main body is secured to the mounting plate. The mounting plate and main body comprise complementary securing elements arranged to secure the main body to the mounting plate. The mounting plate or the main body include a lever having a portion extending beyond a periphery of the device so as to be operable by a device user when the main body is secured to the mounting plate. The lever is operable when activated to disengage the complementary securing elements and separate the main body from the mounting plate to provide access to the battery compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: British Gas Trading Limited
    Inventors: John Gutch, John Mulcahy, Yves Béhar, Noah Murphy-Reinhertz, Moonchul Kim, Mirko Ihrig
  • Patent number: 10218532
    Abstract: Determination of a state of operation of a domestic appliance In one embodiment it is provided a method for determining a state of operation of a domestic appliance (2) in a plurality of domestic appliances (2), having: receiving (S10), from the domestic appliance (2), a time series (51, 52, 53, 54) of data (5) relating to the operation of the domestic appliance (2) over a cycle (4, 7) of operation; and determining (S20) the state of operation of the domestic appliance (2) based on comparing the received time series (51, 52, 53, 54) with a model of time series (151, 152, 153, 154; 251, 252, 253, 254, 255; 351, 352, 353, 354, 355) of data (50) corresponding to the operation of the plurality of domestic appliances (2) over a cycle (4, 7) of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: British Gas Trading Limited
    Inventors: Richard John Bryce, James Eric Anning
  • Patent number: 10132518
    Abstract: A controller for a thermal appliance configured to heat or cool an area of a premises. The controller comprises: a communications interface, configured to communicate over a communications network; a data store comprising information regarding a transport infrastructure; and a processor coupled to the data store and to the first communications interface. The processor is configured to obtain an estimate of the time for a user carrying a mobile device to return to the premises via the transport infrastructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: British Gas Trading Limited
    Inventor: Andreu Tobella
  • Publication number: 20160363342
    Abstract: A battery-powered environmental control and/or sensor device is disclosed. The device includes a mounting plate arranged to be affixed to a support surface; and a main body including a battery compartment. The main body is adapted to be releasably secured to the mounting plate, with the battery compartment being substantially inaccessible when the main body is secured to the mounting plate. The mounting plate and main body comprise complementary securing elements arranged to secure the main body to the mounting plate. The mounting plate or the main body include a lever having a portion extending beyond a periphery of the device so as to be operable by a device user when the main body is secured to the mounting plate. The lever is operable when activated to disengage the complementary securing elements and separate the main body from the mounting plate to provide access to the battery compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Applicant: British Gas Trading Limited
    Inventors: John Gutch, John Mulcahy, Yves Béhar, Noah Murphy-Reinhertz, Moonchul Kim, Mirko Ihrig
  • Patent number: 7303609
    Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a polyimide hollow fibre comprising: (i) providing a dope solution comprising one or more polyimides dissolved in a solvent comprising 60-100 wt % N-methylpyrollidone and 0-40 wt % ethanol, (ii) providing a bore fluid, (iii) generating a tube of the dope solution filled with the bore fluid, (iv) bringing the product of step (iii) into contact with a coagulation solvent to form a hollow fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: British Gas Asia Pacific Pte Limited
    Inventors: Tai-Shung Chung, Rong Wang, Ji Zhong Ren, Chun Cao, Ye Liu, Dong-Fei Li
  • Patent number: 6344289
    Abstract: An arrangement is proposed for a system with at least two molten carbonate or solid oxide fuel cell stacks (1, 2, 3). The cathode flows (14) of these stacks are connected in series while the anode flows (25) are in parallel. All stacks have an internal reforming device for a hydrocarbon fuel. Anode gas is recycled (24) from the stack outlets to the inlets. The invention allows the stacks to be of the same design and this reduces manufacturing costs. The cathode streams between the stacks are cooled by, for example, adding streams of cool air (15) to them. The cathode inlet temperatures can, therefore, be controlled by relatively inexpensive low temperature air valves. The invention allows the system to be designed with few heat exchangers, if any. The per pass utilization of all the oxidant streams and fuel streams are low. The efficiency of the system is typically 4-5 percentage points higher than that of equivalent conventional systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignees: Stichting Energieonderzoek Centrum Nederland, British Gas PLC
    Inventors: Nicolaas Jacobus Joseph Dekker, Richard Griffith Fellows
  • Patent number: 6240612
    Abstract: A method of lining installed pipework which includes the steps of taking a length of liner pipe made from a memory retaining plastics material of external diameter greater than the internal diameter of the pipework to be lined, drawing the liner pipe through a swaging die which is attached directly or indirectly to the pipe to be lined using pulling means under tension attached to the leading end of the liner pipe and threaded through the pipework to reduce the external diameter of the liner pipe by up to 15%, the tension applied by the pulling means being such as partially to restrain the radial expansion of the outer surface of the liner pipe after its emergence from the die, drawing the liner pipe after its emergence from the die, drawing the liner pipe through the installed pipework with its outer diameter reduced to and/or maintained at a dimension less than that of the inner diameter of the pipework and thereafter allowing the liner pipe to expand within the pipework by relaxation of the said tension fo
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: British Gas plc
    Inventor: Brian Edward McGuire
  • Patent number: 6172134
    Abstract: An anaerobically curable composition for use in sealing gas pipeline leaks, comprising an anaerobically curable base preparation and a filler, wherein the filler is a metal-containing filler having a substantially metal free barrier coat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: British Gas PLC
    Inventor: Bernard Cooke
  • Patent number: 6107795
    Abstract: An in-pipe vehicle for carrying out at least one operation in a pipeline. The vehicle comprises a train of modules 11-16 interlinked by suspension units 17 to allow serpentine movement through pipe bends. The vehicle train has its own internal power supply and drive mechanism in respective modules. A detector module 14 determines the presence of a service junction and a manipulative module 13 allows the vehicle to be temporarily wedged in the pipeline whilst providing rotational movement to facilitate the desired operation at the junction. This can include drilling and welding of a service pipe to the main using appropriate modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: British Gas plc
    Inventor: Andrew Smart
  • Patent number: 6056016
    Abstract: Apparatus is provided for introducing sealant into a clearance between a replacement pipe and an existing pipe within which in use the replacement pipe is located. The apparatus includes a nose-cone having a tubular body for connection to the upstream end of the replacement pipe, a frangible member in the form of a pop-out plug; pierceable metal foil; plastic film or membrane to seal the bore of the tubular body and at least one non return valve in the form of an elastic ring, rubber O-ring or plug and spring assembly to permit the flow of sealant from the bore of the body into the clearance by way of the wall of the body but to resist return-flow from the clearance into the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: British Gas plc
    Inventor: Alan Foster Rogers
  • Patent number: 6042727
    Abstract: A process for preparing a porous amorphous silica-alumina refractory oxide is described in which a source of silica, such as tetra ethyl ortho silicate, in a non-aqueous solvent, such as an alcohol, is hydrolysed by adding an aqueous solution containing aluminum ions, in particular a solution of aluminum nitrate, thereby to form a sol and calcining the sol at, for example, 200.degree. C. to 600.degree. C. The product, which may have a microporous or mesoporous structure, is useful in the separation of fluids, especially the separation of carbon dioxide from natural gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: British Gas plc
    Inventors: Stephen David Jones, Timothy Neil Pritchard
  • Patent number: 5993200
    Abstract: A flame support 20 has a plurality of discrete regions 22 through which fuel/air mixture can pass by means of burner ports 13 which extend through the support to a multiplicity of openings 25 at the flame supporting side 24. The support 20 comprises barriers 21/26 which extend between and separate the discrete regions 22. The barriers serve to prevent the passage of fuel/air mixture from upstream of the support to the downstream side 24 of the support in a region between the discrete regions. In burners provided with such a flame support, the likelihood of resonant combustion noise occurring has been found to be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: British Gas plc.
    Inventor: Roland Vincent Horatio Palmer-Jones
  • Patent number: 5950969
    Abstract: A frame for supporting a sign comprises three members which are interconnectable in such a way as to form a three-sided figure with one side forming a base and at least one of the other sides forming a mounting for the sign, each member being in the form of a hoop of tubular section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: British Gas plc
    Inventors: Robert Neal Bennett, Anthony Dennis Elgar, Brian Thomas Sales
  • Patent number: 5936156
    Abstract: A meter to measure the volumetric flow rate of a liquid, for example water, is formed with a pipe forming a liquid flow path containing a low power electrical heater. A first temperature sensor measures the temperature T of the liquid adjacent to an upstream end of the heater and a second temperature sensor measures the temperature T.sub.2 of the liquid adjacent to a downstream end of the heater. The heater adds heat power of a value P to the liquid. A control arrangement comprising a computer means calculates the flow rate Q using the expression ##EQU1## where ST.sub.1 and DT.sub.1 are respectively the specific heat capacity of the liquid and the density of the liquid at the temperature T.sub.1 measured by the first sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: British Gas plc
    Inventors: Graham Richard Roberts, Andrew Jonathan Cole, Barry Leonard Price
  • Patent number: D808828
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: British Gas Trading Limited
    Inventors: Yves Béhar, Noah Murphy-Reinhertz, Moonchul Kim, Mirko Ihrig, Curtis John Collinsworth, Brett Derek Middleton, Hideaki Matsui
  • Patent number: D824786
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: British Gas Trading Limited
    Inventors: Nicola Combe, Yves Béhar, Noah Murphy-Reinhertz, Moonchul Kim, Mirko Ihrig, Curtis John Collinsworth, Brett Derek Middleton, Hideaki Matsui