Patents Assigned to Rheem Manufacturing Company
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR HUMIDITY CONTROL IN AN AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20230160618
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are air conditioning systems including a refrigerant line configured to transport a refrigerant; a compressor in fluid communication with the suction line; and a controller in communication with a sensor configured to measure a characteristic of the refrigerant line. The compressor can be configured to move the refrigerant through the refrigerant line, and the refrigerant can have a first temperature at the outlet of the compressor. The controller can be configured to receive sensor data from the sensor indicating a current value associated with the characteristic of the refrigerant line; determine, based at least partially on the sensor data, that the characteristic of the refrigerant line is above a predetermined threshold; and output instructions for the compressor to perform one or more corrective actions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2022
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Applicant: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Derek Brasuell, Mark Creason, Robert Neihouse
  • Portable hand washing station
    Patent number: 11641982
    Abstract: The disclosed technology includes a portable hand washing station having a sink with an atomizing nozzle that can provide an ultra-low flow of atomized liquid. The atomizing nozzle can reduce consumption of water and reduce the required supply of power for adequate operation of a heating device and a pump of the portable hand washing station. The heating device can include insulation, such that the heating device can provide heated water during an extended operation period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Christopher M. Hayden, Harsha Satyanarayana, Jens Bolleyer, Atilhan Manay, Andrew David Zortman, Travis Miller
  • Single-piece refractory for a water heating assembly
    Patent number: 11639792
    Abstract: The disclosed technology includes a water heater system having a blower, an igniter, a burner, a heat exchanger, and a refractory configured to attach to the burner and the heat exchanger. The refractory can include a unitary ceramic housing having a top and a plurality of sidewalls and be configured to retain heat from combustion gases. The top can have a burner aperture configured to receive at least a portion of the burner and the plurality of sidewalls can form a cavity configured to receive at least a portion of the heat exchanger. One or more of the sidewalls can additionally have a protrusion extending laterally along an inside surface of the sidewall that is configured to contact the heat exchanger to form a seal between the heat exchanger and the refractory. A sealing material can substantially create a seal between the refractory and the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Satya Kiran Gullapalli, Timothy Shellenberger, Ryan Valencia, Juan Garcia
  • Tank-based and tankless water heater systems
    Patent number: 11629884
    Abstract: A water heating system can include a first tank-based water heater having a first inlet line and a first outlet line, where the first inlet line provides unheated water to the first tank, and where the first outlet line draws heated water from the first tank. The system can also include a first tankless water heater having a second outlet line, where the second outlet line of the first tankless water heater provides the heated water to a first heated water demand. The system can also include a first valve that controls an amount of the unheated water flowing through the first inlet line to the first tank-based water heater. The system can further include a controller operatively coupled to the first valve, where the controller controls a position of the first valve based on the first heated water demand and a first capacity of the first tankless water heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Raheel A. Chaudhry, David I. Vega, Michael C. Mitchell
  • Systems and methods for monitoring and detecting a fault in a fluid storage tank
    Patent number: 11626003
    Abstract: The disclosed technology can include a system for monitoring and detecting a fault in a fluid storage tank. A sensor can be located in, on, or proximate the fluid storage tank and can be configured to detect waveforms produced by the fluid storage tank in response to strain. The sensor can convert such waveforms into electrical signals and transmit such electrical signals in the form of vibration data to a controller. The controller can compare the vibration data to stored data, and based on such comparison, determine if a fault is present in the fluid storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Vishwanath Reddy Ardha, Atilhan Manay, Divakar Mantha, Edward Holman
  • Integrated uninterruptible power supplies for appliances
    Patent number: 11626750
    Abstract: A water heater can include a housing and a heating system disposed within the housing, where the heating system is configured to heat a fluid. The water heater can also include a switch coupled to the heating system, where the switch operates between a first position during normal operations and a second position during an outage. The water heater can further include a primary power source coupled to the switch, where the primary power source is configured to provide primary power to the heating system through the switch during the normal operations. The water heater can also include an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) coupled to the switch, where the UPS is configured to provide reserve power to the heating system through the switch during the outage, and where the UPS is integrated with the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Troy Trant, Robert D. Brown
  • System and method for leakage mitigation
    Patent number: 11624482
    Abstract: A leakage mitigation system includes a leakage detection device having a canister configured to: (i) contain a first reactant and a second reactant and, (ii) based on a volume of liquid leaked from a tank, allow the first reactant and the second reactant to react with each other to produce a gas. A shut-off valve coupled to an inlet pipe of the tank is configured to actuate between an open condition and a closed condition. Further, a conduit extending between the leakage detection device and the shut-off valve allows flow of the gas from the leak detection device to the shut off valve. In order to mitigate the leakage of water, the shut-off valve is actuated between the open condition and the closed condition based on the pressure exerted thereon by the flow of the gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Saman Beyhaghi, Atilhan Manay, Eric Dong, Kyle Jiang, Christopher Mao, Benjamin Pham
  • Optimized burners for boiler applications
    Patent number: 11603991
    Abstract: A boiler can have a combustion chamber, a burner, a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the combustion chamber, and a flue for removing a combustion product from the boiler. The burner has a protruding taper shape such as a cone or similar shape. The protruding taper shape of the burner distributes heat to the heat exchanger more evenly than a cylindrical shaped burner thereby reducing heat losses at the combustion chamber wall and increasing the thermal efficiency. The protruding taper shape of the burner also reduces noise associated with the operation of the burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: RHEEM MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Amin Akbarimonfared, Timothy J. Shellenberger, Leonard E. Chambers, Christopher Hertzberg, Juan Cervantes
  • Heated water availability control
    Patent number: 11598533
    Abstract: A water heater system includes a water heater having a first water outlet and a second water outlet. The water heater system further includes a flow detection device coupled to the first water outlet to detect a water flow through the first water outlet. The water heater system also includes a flow control valve fluidly coupled to the second water outlet. The flow control valve is configured to control a flow of water through the second water outlet based on whether the water flow through the first water outlet is detected by the flow detection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Raheel A. Chaudhry, Michael C. Mitchell
  • Air conditioner with condensation drain assembly and improved filter rack
    Patent number: 11585567
    Abstract: A condensate drain assembly includes a drain pan configured to receive condensate from an evaporator coil of an air conditioning system. The drain pan is configured to be removed from the air conditioning system. The condensate drain assembly also includes a drainage pipe configured to translate the condensate from the drain pan to a drain located beneath the air conditioning system and a drain pan end cap. The drain pan end cap includes a first aperture configured to drain the condensate from the drain pan and a second aperture configured to align with the drainage pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: RHEEM MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Kenneth D. Frederick, Karl S. Tallakson, Robert L. Long
  • Dual-circuit heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems and associated methods
    Patent number: 11585575
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improved heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems incorporating a plurality of refrigerant circuits. The system can include a compressor having a first compression chamber, a second compression chamber, and a motor. The system can further include a heat exchanger having a first set of microchannel coils and a second set of microchannel coils. The system can have a first circuit fluidly coupled between the first compression chamber and the first set of microchannel coils and a second circuit fluidly coupled between the second compression chamber and the second set of microchannel coils. Further, the first circuit comprises a first refrigerant and the second circuit comprises a second refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: RHEEM MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Yang Zou, Sivakumar Gopalnarayanan
  • Water heater pilot operation
    Patent number: 11573032
    Abstract: A method of controlling water heater pilot flame ignition includes receiving, by a controller of a water heater, a user input and controlling a pilot gas valve to start a gas flow to a pilot burner in response to the user input. The method further includes, in response to the user input, controlling, by the controller, an igniter to generate an ignition spark for lighting a pilot flame. The method also includes controlling, by the controller, the pilot gas valve to maintain the gas flow to the pilot burner if the pilot flame is lit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Jozef Boros, Larry D. Kidd, Raheel A. Chaudhry
  • Diffuser plates and diffuser plate assemblies
    Patent number: 11566816
    Abstract: A diffuser plate for a thermal transfer device can include a body having a number of first apertures and a second aperture that traverse therethrough, where the first apertures are asymmetrically arranged with respect to the second aperture. The first apertures can have a first shape and a first size, and where the first apertures are configured to receive a plurality of tubes. The second aperture has a second size, where the second size is larger than the first size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Reza Khatami
  • Systems and methods for humidity control in an air conditioning system
    Patent number: 11566828
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are air conditioning systems including a refrigerant line configured to transport a refrigerant; a compressor in fluid communication with the suction line; and a controller in communication with a sensor configured to measure a characteristic of the refrigerant line. The compressor can be configured to move the refrigerant through the refrigerant line, and the refrigerant can have a first temperature at the outlet of the compressor. The controller can be configured to receive sensor data from the sensor indicating a current value associated with the characteristic of the refrigerant line; determine, based at least partially on the sensor data, that the characteristic of the refrigerant line is above a predetermined threshold; and output instructions for the compressor to perform one or more corrective actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Derek Brasuell, Mark Creason, Robert Neihouse
  • Systems and methods for preventing excessive cascade boiler system heating overshoot
    Patent number: 11561003
    Abstract: The disclosed technology includes a controller configured to control an output of one or more boilers to reduce temperature overshoot of the boiler system. The controller can receive temperature data, a threshold temperature value, and a maximum temperature value, and determine whether the temperature of the water in the boiler system is greater than or equal to a threshold temperature. The controller can also determine a number of operating boilers that were operating when the threshold temperature was reached and determine a temperature increment value based on the threshold temperature, the maximum temperature, and the number of operating boilers. The controller can output a control signal to a boiler to reduce an output of the boiler based on the temperature increment value and the temperature data to reduce overshoot of the boiler system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Hiram Osuna Carrasco, Jorge Miguel Gamboa Revilla
  • Combustion gas permeable condensation trays for water heating systems
    Patent number: 11549722
    Abstract: A condensation tray for condensing tankless water heaters is disclosed. The tray can include a plurality of peaks and valleys. The peaks can divert condensate runoff from a secondary heat exchanger into the valleys so as to prevent the condensate from falling on a primary heat exchanger. The tray includes gas apertures that enable combustion gases to pass through the tray and across the secondary heat exchanger. Overhangs on the peaks can prevent the condensate from draining through the gas apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Stogsdill, Qian Zhang, Govinda Mahajan, Joshua Renier
  • Systems and methods for heat exchanger manufacturing
    Patent number: 11548055
    Abstract: Systems and methods for pressure expanding a tube to fit a heat exchanger fin are disclosed. The systems can include one or more pressure relief devices, and each pressure relief device can be configured to release at least some pressurized fluid via a respective auxiliary flow path in response to a pressure of the pressurized fluid being greater than a predetermined pressure relief threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Yang Zou, Sivakumar Gopalnarayanan, Swapnil Khaire
  • Evaporator header liquid suction heat exchangers
    Patent number: 11549764
    Abstract: An evaporator header can include a header body having one or more walls that define an inner cavity configured to receive a first flow of refrigerant from a plurality of evaporator flow paths. A liquid line portion can extend through the inner cavity, can define a liquid line flow path that is fluidly separated from the inner cavity, and can be configured to receive a second flow of refrigerant. A plurality of apertures can extend through the one or more walls of the header body. The evaporator head can include a plurality of flow path connectors, and each can be configured to facilitate at least some of the first flow of refrigerant from a corresponding evaporator flow path of the plurality of evaporator flow paths, into the inner cavity via a corresponding aperture of the plurality of apertures, and across at least some of the liquid line portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Charles G. Hall
  • Air conditioning reheat systems and methods thereto
    Patent number: 11530857
    Abstract: The disclosed technology includes systems and methods for controlling an air conditioning system. The method of controlling the air conditioning system can include receiving air temperature data from an air temperature sensor and determining that the air conditioning system should operate in a reheat mode based on the air temperature being less than a threshold air temperature. The method can include outputting a control signal to a first electronic expansion valve to close and thereby prevent refrigerant to flow through an outdoor condenser coil. The method can also include outputting a control signal to a second electronic expansion valve to open and thereby permit refrigerant to flow through a reheat coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: RHEEM MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert L. Long, Karl Tallakson, Sivakumar Gopalnarayanan
  • Overflow sensor assembly in temperature control systems
    Patent number: 11530829
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an overflow sensor assembly of an HVAC unit includes a sensor mounting bracket that is configured to be coupled to a mounting surface of the HVAC unit such that sensor probes of the overflow sensor assembly are suspended within and extend into a condensate drain pan of the HVAC unit. The sensor probes are defined by a sensor element that is coupled to the sensor mounting bracket and a spring that is coupled to the sensor element. The sensor probes are configured to activate an overflow detection circuit when the sensor probes come in contact with condensate fluid collected in the condensate drain pan prior to the condensate fluid overflowing from the condensate drain pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: RHEEM MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert L. Long, Kenneth D. Frederick, Kevin M. Ray, Karl S. Tallakson, Sivakumar Gopalnarayanan