Patents Assigned to Rheem Manufacturing Company
  • Patent number: 11953232
    Abstract: The disclosed technology includes a heat exchanger assembly having a plurality of heat exchanger tubes. Each heat exchanger tube can include a baffle. The baffle can include a first end and a second end, a length of the baffle being defined as a distance between the first end and the second end, a body having a first side and a second side, a hanging portion located proximate the second end, and a plurality of fins disposed along the body. The plurality of fins can extend outwardly from the body and upwardly towards the second end at an angle relative to a central axis of the body. The plurality of fins can include a first fin positioned proximate the first end and having a first angle and a second fin positioned proximate the second end and having a second angle, the first angle being less than the second angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Qian Zhang, Elmer Rodriguez, Oscar Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 11952753
    Abstract: The disclosed technology includes a valve assembly having a valve, an actuating system, and a trigger. The trigger can be in mechanical communication with the actuating system and the actuating system can be in mechanical communication with the valve. The trigger can be positioned such that the trigger can interact with liquid resulting from a leak in a plumbing system, and upon interaction with liquid, the trigger can release the actuating system such that the actuating system can cause the valve to transition from an open position to a closed position. In the closed position, the valve can restrict the passage of liquid through the plumbing system such that the leak can be mitigated or stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Raheel A. Chaudhry, Michael C. Mitchell, Michael C. Ezell, Troy Trant
  • Patent number: 11953210
    Abstract: A tankless water heater including a water inlet, a water outlet, a conductivity sensor, a temperature sensor, and a heating chamber connected to the water inlet and the water outlet wherein the heating chamber is configured to heat a flow of water received from the water inlet and output the flow of water to the water outlet. The water heating system can further include a controller communicably coupled to the conductivity sensor and the temperature sensor, where the controller calculates an adjusted conductivity of a flow of water through the water heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Troy Trant, Robert D. Brown, Edward D. Turner
  • Patent number: 11906174
    Abstract: A hot water delivery system includes a water heater, a mixing valve that is coupled to the output of the water heater, and a plurality of loads that are coupled to the output of the mixing valve. A load set point temperature of each load that is representative of a maximum temperature of the hot water that is to be delivered to the respective load is set by a user. Responsive to detecting the occurrence of an event associated with a load of the plurality of loads, a controller of the water heater controls the mixing valve to adjust the temperature of the hot water from the water heater to the load set point temperature associated with the load, provided the load set point temperature of the load is different from a water heater set point temperature at which the water heater maintains the hot water therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Robert Aaron Oglesbee, Matthew S. Wasson
  • Patent number: 11906159
    Abstract: The disclosed technology includes a fluid heating device including a frustoconical combustion chamber and a heat exchanger that can include heating tubes. The combustion chamber can have a first end and a second end that is in fluid communication with the heating tubes. The surface area of the second end of the combustion chamber can be larger than the surface area of the first end of the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Amin Monfared, Leonard E. Chambers, Miguel Mendoza, Arash Jafari, Babak Bagheri, Bruce Hotton
  • Patent number: 11906223
    Abstract: The disclosed technology includes a method for identifying and determining a fault or a potential fault in an air system having an outdoor unit and an indoor unit in fluid communication via a refrigerant circuit. The method can include receiving, from a sensor, vibration data indicative of one or more sounds or vibrations detected by at least a portion of the refrigerant circuit. The method can include identifying, based at least in part on the vibration data and stored baseline vibration data, an abnormality in the vibration data. The abnormality can be indicated by vibration data indicative of a frequency that is outside a range of acceptable frequencies. The method can include analyzing the identified abnormality according to a predetermined set of evaluation factors to determine the fault or the potential fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Sivakumar Gopalnarayanan, Ammar K. Sakarwala
  • Patent number: 11906183
    Abstract: Embodiments include overflow sensor assemblies for water heaters, HVAC systems, and other devices for which temperature control systems may be used. An example overflow sensor assembly for detecting fluid leaks at a device may include a sensor probe configured to be in electrical communication with a power supply, and a sensor mounting bracket that forms a ground, the sensor mounting bracket configured to attach to a mounting surface on the device and suspend the sensor probe in a condensate drain pan of the device. An overflow detection circuit can be activated when the sensor probe and the sensor mounting bracket come in contact with a condensate fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Robert L. Long, Kenneth D. Frederick, Kevin M. Ray, Karl S. Tallakson, Sivakumar Gopalnarayanan
  • Publication number: 20240027112
    Abstract: A combination water heating, air conditioning refrigerant system is described. The combined system includes a plurality of independently adjustable electronic expansion valves. The expansion valves can independently modulate the delivery of high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant to either a water heat exchanger or an outside condenser. A controller can receive input signals, including temperature signals from one or more temperature sensors that indicate the temperature at various locations of the system. The temperature signals include one or more of water temperature signals, ambient air temperature signals, or refrigerant super heat temperatures signals. In response to the input signals, the controller can output control signals to one or more of the plurality of electronic expansion valves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Robert L. Long
  • Patent number: 11874028
    Abstract: The disclosed technology includes a gas delivery system for controlling a target gas input rate of a fluid heating device. The system can include a sensor configured to measure a temperature of a gas flowing in a gas flow path, a modulating orifice in fluid communication with the gas flow path, and a motor in mechanical communication with the modulating orifice. The system can further include a controller configured to receive temperature data indicative of the temperature of the gas. The controller can determine a target cross-sectional area of the modulating orifice based at least in part on the target gas input rate and the temperature of the gas and, in response, output a signal to the motor to transition the modulating orifice from a first position to a second position having the target cross-sectional area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Satya Kiran Gullapalli
  • Publication number: 20240011655
    Abstract: Devices and methods for controlling a heat pump system are presented. A method may include identifying, by a first device, a signal received from a second device associated with an outdoor portion of the heat pump system, the signal indicating that the heat pump system is performing a defrost operation; reducing, based on the defrost operation, a speed of a fan associated with an indoor portion of the heat pump system; identifying pressure data received from a pressure sensor during the defrost operation, the pressure data indicative of a suction line pressure of the heat pump system; determining, based on the pressure data, that the suction line pressure is below a threshold pressure, the threshold pressure greater than a low-pressure fault threshold; and increasing the speed of the fan based on the determination that the suction line pressure is below the threshold pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Applicant: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Christopher Puranen
  • Patent number: 11866915
    Abstract: A liquid dosing system is disclosed and can include a cartridge comprising a reservoir configured to store an additive, an output vessel in fluid communication with the reservoir, and a cartridge outlet in fluid communication with the output vessel. The liquid dosing system can include a housing that includes a water passage configured to direct water though the liquid dosing system and a receiving portion configured to at least partially receive the cartridge when the cartridge is connected to the housing. The receiving portion can include a receiving port in fluid communication with the water passage, and the receiving port can be configured to receive at least some of the additive from the cartridge outlet when the cartridge is connected to the housing. The receiving portion can include a motor configured to engage in mechanical communication with the output vessel when the cartridge is connected to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Taylor Leigh, Jason Lye, Atilhan Manay, Stephen Phelps, Troy Trant, Jon Thomas, Prudhvi Amaravadhi, Edward Holman, Fahira Sangare
  • Patent number: 11859868
    Abstract: A heat pump water heater has a tank, a heat source, and a heat pump system. The heat pump system has a refrigerant path, at least a portion of which is in thermal communication with the water tank volume so that heat transfers from refrigerant to the water tank volume. A fan causes air to flow through a housing, and another portion of the refrigerant path includes an evaporator in the housing. The fan is within the housing and may further be within a second housing. The first housing may comprise a baffle to direct air flow. The fan may be a variable speed fan in communication with a controller, so that the controller controls the fan speed depending on a temperature of the refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Rodney K. Pugh, Emil J. Antoon, Josue Figueroa, Hector T. Donastorg, Richard T. Robbins
  • Patent number: 11859837
    Abstract: The disclosed technology includes devices and systems for an economizer of a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The disclosed technology can include an economizer for an HVAC system comprising a housing, an air inlet extending through a wall of the housing, a sliding door configured to transition between a closed position and an open position, and a controller configured to cause the sliding door to transition between the closed position and the open position based on temperature data. The sliding door can comprise a first portion forming a barrier and a second portion comprising at least one aperture. In the closed position, the first portion can align with the air inlet and substantially prevent ambient air from moving through the air inlet. In the open position, the second portion can align with the air inlet and permit the ambient air to move through the air inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Chitra Sadanandan, Sivakumar Gopalnarayanan
  • Patent number: 11859869
    Abstract: Systems and methods for integrating photovoltaic (PV) energy into water heater systems are disclosed. The disclosed technology includes determining whether a current water temperature is less than a first PV heat point that is greater than a normal heat point, and if so, outputting instructions for PV energy to be transferred from a PV system to a heating device of the water heater. If the current water temperature falls below a second PV heat point that is less than the normal heat point, the disclosed technology includes outputting instructions for energy to be transferred from a utility system to the heating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Raheel A. Chaudhry, James Michael Reagin
  • Patent number: 11852059
    Abstract: A noise muffler for an air moving device can include a housing with a housing inlet, a housing outlet, and at least a first foam component and a second foam component. The first foam component and the second foam component are placed within a cavity of the housing and define an air passageway. The first foam component and the second foam component redirect air flow through the cavity in three dimensions in order to muffle noise generated by the air moving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Sina Jasteh, William Simard
  • Patent number: 11852340
    Abstract: The present disclosure addresses systems, media, and methods of configuring a heating system comprising a plurality of combustion-type heating devices fluidly coupled to a vent system. Configuring the heating system includes receiving operating pressure data from one or more pressure sensors in a flue of one of combustion-type heating devices and the vent system. The operating pressure data from the one or more pressure sensors is indicative of a pressure at a corresponding location in the vent system. Configuring the heating system further includes comparing the operating pressure data to stored operational pressure data indicative of operational pressure ranges indicative of permissible operating parameters associated with preventing backflow of flue gases into the one of combustion-type heating devices and outputting instructions for a damper to at least partially open or at least partially close based at least in part on the operating pressure data and the stored operational pressure data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Joey Krueger, Jorge Miguel Gamboa Revilla, Hiram Osuna, Bo Gao, Bryan Perales, Danilo Aguilar
  • Patent number: 11846450
    Abstract: A tankless electric water heater system including a heating chamber having an inlet at a first end and an outlet at a second end, a heating element connected to the heating chamber, a first temperature sensor disposed near the first end of the heating chamber, a second temperature sensor disposed near the second end of the heating chamber, a flow sensor configured to detect a flow of water and disposed near the heating chamber, and a controller connected to the first and second temperature sensors, the flow sensor, and the heating element. The controller is configured to have a set point temperature, to detect temperature and flow data from the first and second temperature sensors, and the flow sensor, and to provide as output a power setting to the heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Christopher Mark Hayden, Eric Robert Jurczyszak, Sergiu Gabriel Mihu, Richard Joseph Corcoran, Jens Bolleyer, Jeffrey Dean Hankins
  • Patent number: D1009243
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Marcus Real, Brittany Calderon, Sergio Neaves, Clayton Koenning
  • Patent number: D1012581
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Abbigael Passero, Sergio Duarte, Augusta Gohil, Justin Reyes, Amin Monfared
  • Patent number: D1023259
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Sina Jasteh, William Simard