Patents Assigned to Maxitrol Company
  • Patent number: 12297916
    Abstract: A valve assembly includes a valve body defining a fluid inlet in fluid communication with a fluid outlet. The valve body has an inner body surface defining an interior chamber extending between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. A valve element is disposed within the interior chamber and rotatable through a range of positions relative to the outlet providing a high level of precision control of a fluid flow rate through the valve assembly. A valve seat with a seal is positioned around a valve element. The valve seat is configured to self-adjust its inner radial diameter to correspond to the outer radial diameter of the valve element to maintain a portion of an inner seat surface in contact with an outer valve surface of the valve element through the range of positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2025
    Assignee: Maxitrol Company
    Inventors: Mark Geoffrey Masen, Jason Sagovac
  • Patent number: 11313558
    Abstract: A system and controller where the pressure of the air is continuously monitored or read at a designated exhaust point and adjustments made to the flow of the air and gas to keep the efficiency of the appliance at a maximum to control the appliance (or the burner for an appliance) within specifications as dictated by the customer or consumer rather than training the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Maxitrol Company
    Inventors: John James Schlachter, Mark Geoffrey Masen, Frank P. Mimick, Nicholas Roth Hanawalt, Lynn E. Cooper
  • Patent number: 11313484
    Abstract: A multifunction valve includes a valve body defining an inlet, and outlet and an interior chamber. A flow control gate may be disposed within the interior chamber and comprises one or more protrusions configured to provide a high level of precision control of a fluid flow rate through the multifunction valve as the flow control gate is rotated through an arcuate range of positions. The protrusions may comprise a cut-out portion, wherein the size and/or shape of the cut-out may be configured to modify the fluid flow rate through the multifunction valve. A method of modulating a fluid flow rate includes directing fluid flow through a multifunction valve from an inlet to an outlet, the multifunction valve including a flow control gate, adjusting the flow rate through the multifunction valve by rotating a control shaft to position the flow control gate to variably occlude the outlet of the multifunction valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Maxitrol Company
    Inventors: Mark Geoffrey Masen, Jason Sagovac
  • Patent number: 11022305
    Abstract: Techniques for controlling a solid fuel combustion appliance, e.g., a wood burning stove, are disclosed. A control system measures an exhaust gas temperature of airflow through an outlet of the solid fuel combustion appliance. The control system determines a derivative of the exhaust gas temperature with respect to time. The derivative of the exhaust gas temperature with respect to time is compared to a predetermined threshold. The control system modulates the inlet damper in response to determining that the derivative of the exhaust gas temperature with respect to time reaches the predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Maxitrol Company
    Inventor: Mark Geoffrey Masen
  • Publication number: 20190316775
    Abstract: A system and controller where the pressure of the air is continuously monitored or read at a designated exhaust point and adjustments made to the flow of the air and gas to keep the efficiency of the appliance at a maximum to control the appliance (or the burner for an appliance) within specifications as dictated by the customer or consumer rather than training the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Applicant: Maxitrol Company
    Inventors: John James Schlachter, Mark Geoffrey Masen, Frank P. Mimick, Nicholas Roth Hanawalt, Lynn E. Cooper
  • Patent number: 10302204
    Abstract: A multifunction valve includes a valve body defining an inlet, and outlet and an interior chamber. A flow control gate is disposed within the interior chamber and is rotatable through an arcuate range of positions relative to the outlet providing a high level of precision control of a fluid flow rate through the multifunction valve. A method of modulating a fluid flow rate includes directing fluid flow through a multifunction valve from an inlet to an outlet, the multifunction valve including a flow control gate, adjusting the flow rate through the multifunction valve by rotating a control shaft to position the flow control gate to variably occlude the outlet of the fluid control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Maxitrol Company
    Inventors: Mark Geoffrey Masen, Jason Sagovac
  • Patent number: 10234139
    Abstract: Techniques for controlling a solid fuel combustion appliance, e.g., a wood burning stove, are disclosed. A control system measures an exhaust gas temperature of airflow through an outlet of the solid fuel combustion appliance. The control system determines a derivative of the exhaust gas temperature with respect to time. The derivative of the exhaust gas temperature with respect to time is compared to a predetermined threshold. The control system modulates the inlet damper in response to determining that the derivative of the exhaust gas temperature with respect to time reaches the predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Maxitrol Company
    Inventor: Mark Geoffrey Masen
  • Publication number: 20180238202
    Abstract: A beam coupling includes a spring extending between top and bottom plates to transmit rotational motion while providing longitudinal compressibility and accommodating axial misalignment without loss of effective and efficient operation; a fluid flow control system may include a beam coupling operatively disposed between a motor and a valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Applicant: Maxitrol Company
    Inventors: Mark Geoffrey Masen, Jason Sagovac
  • Publication number: 20170219103
    Abstract: A multifunction valve includes a valve body defining an inlet, and outlet and an interior chamber. A flow control gate is disposed within the interior chamber and is rotatable through an arcuate range of positions relative to the outlet providing a high level of precision control of a fluid flow rate through the multifunction valve. A method of modulating a fluid flow rate includes directing fluid flow through a multifunction valve from an inlet to an outlet, the multifunction valve including a flow control gate, adjusting the flow rate through the multifunction valve by rotating a control shaft to position the flow control gate to variably occlude the outlet of the fluid control valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: Maxitrol Company
    Inventors: Mark Geoffrey Masen, Jason Sagovac
  • Publication number: 20170146239
    Abstract: Techniques for controlling a solid fuel combustion appliance, e.g., a wood burning stove, are disclosed. A control system measures an exhaust gas temperature of airflow through an outlet of the solid fuel combustion appliance. The control system determines a derivative of the exhaust gas temperature with respect to time. The derivative of the exhaust gas temperature with respect to time is compared to a predetermined threshold. The control system modulates the inlet damper in response to determining that the derivative of the exhaust gas temperature with respect to time reaches the predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Applicant: Maxitrol Company
    Inventor: Mark Geoffrey Masen
  • Patent number: 9022778
    Abstract: A signal conditioner for use with a controller and a burner receives an input signal from the controller. A conversion circuit generates a primary output signal corresponding to the input signal to control the burner. The signal conditioner also includes a delay circuit. The delay circuit overrides the primary output signal generated by the conversion circuit and substitutes a delay signal to the burner at a predetermined level for a predetermined time. The signal conditioner may also include a temperature override circuit, which receives a temperature of air from the burner. If the temperature is above or below established limits, the temperature override circuit substitutes a temperature override signal to the burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Maxitrol Company
    Inventors: John James Schlachter, Lynn E. Cooper
  • Patent number: 7823581
    Abstract: A gas valve (14) control system (10) uses a control signal (16) to enable a valve (14) and a validation signal (22) to validate the control signal (16). The system (10) includes a valve (14) connected to a burner (12). A receiver (18) is electrically connected to the valve (14) and provides the valve (14) with the control signal (16). A controller (20) has a control transmitter (24) in wireless communication with the receiver (18) to transmit the control signal (16) to the receiver (18) at a speed of light. The controller (20) further includes a validation transmitter (26) to transmit a validation signal (22) to the receiver (18) at a speed of sound. The valve (14) is enabled by the control signal (16) if a time delay between the receiver (18) receiving the control signal (16) and the validation signal (22) is shorter than a maximum delay period. The control signal (16) is discarded if the time delay is longer than the maximum delay period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Maxitrol Company
    Inventors: Juan F. Velasquez, Barbara Happe
  • Publication number: 20090246720
    Abstract: A signal conditioner for use with a controller and a burner receives an input signal from the controller. A conversion circuit generates a primary output signal corresponding to the input signal to control the burner. The signal conditioner also includes a delay circuit. The delay circuit overrides the primary output signal generated by the conversion circuit and substitutes a delay signal to the burner at a predetermined level for a predetermined time. The signal conditioner may also include a temperature override circuit, which receives a temperature of air from the burner. If the temperature is above or below established limits, the temperature override circuit substitutes a temperature override signal to the burner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: Maxitrol Company
    Inventors: John James Schlachter, Lynn E. Cooper
  • Publication number: 20090197212
    Abstract: A fan modulated premix burner control system includes a regulating control valve for regulating the pressure of gas fed to a premix chamber. The pressure of the gas is based on the pressure of air also fed into the chamber to produce a constant air/fuel ratio. The system also includes an air restrictor for reducing the pressure of the air to permit operation of the burner at low fan speeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: Maxitrol Company
    Inventor: Mark Masen
  • Patent number: 7553151
    Abstract: A heater (12) includes a burner (16), a valve (20), and an inducer (18). A thermostat (24) is electrically coupled to the heater (12) and a control board (44) is disposed in the heater (12) and electrically connected to the thermostat (24). The control board (44) includes an inducer relay (50), a valve relay (52), and a control timer (54) for switching the valve (20) between a high flow stage and a low flow stage and the inducer (18) between a high speed stage and a low speed stage, respectively, wherein the inducer relay (50), the valve relay (52), and the control timer (54) are mounted to the control board (44) to define a singular and compact controller (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Maxitrol Company
    Inventors: Jason O'Mara, John James Schlachter
  • Publication number: 20060257803
    Abstract: A gas valve (22) control system (10) for a heater includes a burner (26) and a valve (22) that has a high flow stage and a low flow stage. The valve (22) supplies fuel to the burner (26) in the high flow stage until the burner (26) is ignited. While operating in the high flow stage, an inducer (24) that supplies combustion air to the burner (26) operates in a high speed stage. The valve (22) and the inducer (24) are controlled by a controller (12). A timer (28) is used to coordinate the valve (22) and the inducer (24) such that after a predetermined amount of time, the valve (22) switches to a low flow stage and the inducer (24) switches to a low speed stage. This is to provide the burner (26) with more fuel and combustion air while igniting and to reduce condensation in the heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Publication date: November 16, 2006
    Applicant: Maxitrol Company
    Inventors: John Schlachter, Lynn Cooper
  • Publication number: 20060254575
    Abstract: A gas valve (14) control system (10) uses a control signal (16) to enable a valve (14) and a validation signal (22) to validate the control signal (16). The system (10) includes a valve (14) connected to a burner (12). A receiver (18) is electrically connected to the valve (14) and provides the valve (14) with the control signal (16). A controller (20) has a control transmitter (24) in wireless communication with the receiver (18) to transmit the control signal (16) to the receiver (18) at a speed of light. The controller (20) further includes a validation transmitter (26) to transmit a validation signal (22) to the receiver (18) at a speed of sound. The valve (14) is enabled by the control signal (16) if a time delay between the receiver (18) receiving the control signal (16) and the validation signal (22) is shorter than a maximum delay period. The control signal (16) is discarded if the time delay is longer than the maximum delay period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Publication date: November 16, 2006
    Applicant: Maxitrol Company
    Inventors: Juan Velazquez, Barbara Happe
  • Patent number: D609197
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Maxitrol Company
    Inventors: Bonnie Kern Koskela, Richard Bargert, Mark Geoffrey Masen
  • Patent number: D660809
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Maxitrol Company
    Inventors: Bonnie Kern Koskela, Richard H. Bargert, Daniel J. Perz
  • Patent number: D1028177
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Maxitrol Company
    Inventor: Daniel James Perz