Patents Examined by Carl D. Price
  • Patent number: 7223096
    Abstract: A lighter comprises a lighter housing, a gas container for storing liquid inflammable gas, a combustion device connected to the gas container, and an igniter for igniting inflammable gas in the combustion device. The housing includes an upper cover and a case, wherein one side of the upper cover includes a protuberance forming a small hole thereon; a connector disposed below the protuberance of the upper cover for connecting the upper cover and the case, wherein the connector includes a recess portion coupling with the protuberance and having transverse holes on both sides of the recess portion; and a bolt for rotationally connecting the protuberance and the recess portion; wherein the case has at its edge port a longitudinal groove connected to the connector and having an opening at the edge port of the groove to couple with the protuberance of the upper cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Inventor: Chi Lam Wong
  • Patent number: 7222619
    Abstract: A barbecue has a pair of storable shelves mounted on opposite portions of the barbecue housing adjacent the upper open end of the housing. The shelves are rotatable about generally vertical pivot axes so that each can be swung between a first position for use outside the housing and a second position for storage inside the housing. The shelves are positioned, one over the other, for storage inside the housing when each is in the second position. Swinging movement of each of the shelves between the first and second position is provided by a downwardly extending shaft at an end of a bracket on which the shelf is mounted, which shaft is rotatably received within a mating vertical aperture in a mounting assembly mounted at the inside surface of the barbecue housing. Recesses in the shelf brackets permit the brackets to be positioned over and to nest on the rim of the housing when in the first position outside of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Original Ideas, Inc
    Inventor: Robert A. DeMars
  • Patent number: 7217121
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for improved process control in combustion applications, and particularly those relating to the steelmaking industry. An apparatus is provided for process control in a combustion application comprising a laser to transmit a near-infrared laser beam through off-gas produced by the combustion application, a detector to detect the transmitted laser beam and convert the detected laser beam to an electrical signal, and a control system for providing adjustment of select inputs to the combustion application in response to the electrical signal from the detector. The method of this invention comprises transmitting a near-infrared laser beam through off-gas produced by the combustion application, detecting the transmitted laser beam, and adjusting select inputs of the combustion application in response to the detected transmitted laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Inventors: Murray J. Thomson, Jason J. Nikkari, Gervase I. Mackay, Alak Chanda
  • Patent number: 7216645
    Abstract: A wood burning stove is provided. The combustion chamber in which the fire occurs has a baffle plate that is moveable to direct air flow through one of two different pathways from the combustion chamber to the chimney. When in a first position, the baffle plate forces the air and smoke to move through a first pathway; when in a second position, a by-pass pathway is opened, allowing air and smoke to move through a second pathway. The stove can have a door in the front wall, or the top wall, or both walls, to provide access to the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: HNI Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel S. Henry, Matthew Owings, Monte Jay Weaver, Brian L. Wallace
  • Patent number: 7217122
    Abstract: The candle wick snuffer is mounted on a baseplate which is at the bottom of the candle. The baseplate carries a swing arm which is released when the temperature rises to critical point in the bottom of the candle. The baseplate may also carry a wick retainer to maintain the correct relative position between the swing arm of the candle wick snuffer and the wick. When the swing arm is released, it pulls the remaining wick down to snuff the candle flame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Inventor: Ian F. Baird
  • Patent number: 7204688
    Abstract: Gas burner for a dryer including a gas nozzle for receiving, and injecting gas, a mixing tube for mixing the gas injected from the gas nozzle and primary air, igniter fitted to an outlet of the mixing tube for igniting the gas mixed with the primary air coming out of the outlet of the mixing tube, and a flame holder fitted to the outlet of the mixing tube having flame holes for splitting, and ejecting the gas mixed with the primary air in burning the gas, thereby forming shorter flame lengths, and securing stability of the flame by enhancing an initial igniting capability, and splitting the flame into many parts to increase introduction of secondary air into the flame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: In Hee Han
  • Patent number: 7189073
    Abstract: A burner with staged fuel injection includes at least two separate stages (4a, 4b) for fuel injection arranged along the swirl body (1). The burner is distinguished in that, between the first and the second stage (4a, 4b), a separating element (8) is provided, which extends in the direction of the combustion chamber (3) and separates the combustion air flow which enters in the region of the first stage (4a) from the combustion air flow which enters in the region of the second stage (4b). The burner can be operated with low combustion pulsations even in the case of low burner powers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Douglas Pennell, Adnan Eroglu
  • Patent number: 7188618
    Abstract: An oven includes a baking space lighting system switched off automatically after a predetermined period of operation but automatically switched on again upon actuation of a manually actuated oven element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Eduard Anschütz, Sylvia Peter, Frank Rödelsperger, Bernd Strolz, Dieter Weiss
  • Patent number: 7174885
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus capable of uniformly heating and cooking food laid on a grill unit using thermal energy radiated from a heating unit, includes a cabinet opened at a top surface thereof to provide an opening over which the food to be cooked is laid. A grill unit is seated in the opening of the cabinet so as to support the food over the opening. A heating unit is installed in the cabinet at a position offset from an effective grill part of the grill unit so that a front surface of the heating unit faces the grill unit to transmit thermal energy to the grill unit supporting the food laid thereon. The cooking apparatus also includes a heat blocking member to block a part of the thermal energy transmitted to an edge of the grill unit, thus allowing the thermal energy to be uniformly transmitted to the food laid on the grill unit. Thus, the cooking apparatus of the present invention allows food laid close to the edge and food laid on a central portion of the grill unit to be uniformly heated and cooked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dae-Sung Han, Chul Kim, Yong-Woon Han, Seong-Deog Jang, Kyung-Hee Ham, Joo-Yeong Yeo, Han-Seong Kang
  • Patent number: 7175422
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for accelerated aging of an automotive catalytic converter under conditions incorporating volatilized oil consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Cynthia C. Webb, Brent A. Shoffner, Gordon J. Bartley
  • Patent number: 7175423
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for using staged air combustion. The apparatus includes a burner body (10) secured to a port block (42), and a fuel passageway (12) extending through the burner body (10), terminating in a fuel nozzle (22), which injects fuel into the burner throat (40). Primary air jets (20) are configured to inject primary air into a primary combustion region (24), which is normally in the burner throat (40). A dish with a dish surface (28) is connected to the burner throat (40); the dish surface (28) extending in a divergent angle with respect to a burner centerline (35). Secondary air jets (34) are connected to the air passageway (14) and extend through the port block (42). The secondary air jets (34) inject secondary air into a secondary combustion region (38), which may be at the dish surface (28) or the hot face (30) of the burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Bloom Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen P. Pisano, Anthony G. Fennell, John R. Hemmerlin, Glenn W. Baggley, John C. Dormire
  • Patent number: 7172413
    Abstract: A gas combustion apparatus of a laundry dryer is provided, by which an initial ignition power is improved to enhance an ignition property. The gas combustion apparatus includes a gas supply; a mixing pipe, having a mixing passage extending from an inlet end to an outlet end, for mixing the supplied gas with primary air, the primary air and gas entering the mixing passage at the inlet end and a gas-and-air mixture exiting the mixing passage at the outlet end; and a flame holder, disposed at the outlet end of the mixing pipe, for separating the gas-and-air mixture exiting the mixing pipe into a complex plurality of jetted streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: In Hee Han, Seong Hai Jeong, Soo Won Park
  • Patent number: 7172412
    Abstract: A pyrolysis heater particularly for the cracking of hydrocarbons in the production of olefins has a burner arrangement in the firebox which includes staged combustion low NOx hearth burners firing upwardly in the firebox adjacent to the walls. Wall stabilizing gas fuel injection tips, located at an elevation above the hearth burners, inject fuel upwardly between the walls and the flame from the hearth burners. This prevents rollover of the flame onto the process heater coil and overheating of the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: ABB Lummus Global Inc.
    Inventors: Erwin M. J. Platvoet, Robert John Gartside, Peter Robert Ponzi, Paul Chapman, Frank D. McCarthy
  • Patent number: 7168426
    Abstract: A portable gas stove assembly includes a gas stove and a stove stand, wherein the gas stove has a fuel tank for storing fuel, a flow regulating valve for regulating the flow of the fuel, a fuel nozzle for guiding the fuel flowing from the flow regulating valve, a burner at the top of the fuel nozzle, an adjusting rod on one side of the flow regulating valve for controlling the fuel passing through the flow regulating valve and a first connecting device proximate to the burner; and the stove stand includes a placing section for placing a cooking utensil and a second connecting device disposed on the placing section corresponding to the first connecting device for integrally coupling the stove stand with the first connecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Inventor: Huang-Hsi Hsu
  • Patent number: 7168947
    Abstract: Methods and systems for reducing nitrogen oxides in combustion flue gas is provided. The method includes combusting a fuel in a main combustion zone such that a flow of combustion flue gas is generated wherein the combustion flue gas includes at least one nitrogen oxide species, establishing a fuel-rich zone, forming a plurality of reduced N-containing species in the fuel rich zone, injecting over-fire air into the combustion flue gas downstream of fuel rich zone, and controlling process parameters to provide conditions for the reduced N-containing species to react with the nitrogen oxides in the OFA zone to produce elemental nitrogen such that a concentration of nitrogen oxides is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Vladimir M. Zamansky, Vitali Victor Lissianski, Boris Nickolaevich Eiteneer
  • Patent number: 7163011
    Abstract: A gas grilling apparatus includes a cart, a grill housing attached to the cart, and a grill and a main grill burner contained in the grill housing. An auxiliary burner unit is also attached to the cart, and the auxiliary burner unit is located, or is placeable at a level below the main grill burner. The auxiliary burner unit may be made height-adjustable, and enhances the ability of the user to view or remove the contents of a pot or pan having high side walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Eastman Outdoors, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Pestrue
  • Patent number: 7160104
    Abstract: A lighter has been integrated into portable electronic equipments such as cellular phones, PDAs, or portable game players. The lighter can be completely stowed within the portable electronic equipment so that no parts protrude out of the portable electronic equipment's housing. Thereby not only the size can be reduced but also damage and entanglement with other things the portable electronic equipment is kept together as well as injuries can be avoided. The lighter is operated by a switch which is implemented as button either on the side of the portable electronic equipment or as a GUI menu or button on the display unit. When pressing the switch button the cover on the outlet of the lighter is being removed while at the same time a cylinder is being extended and moving out of the outlet, and a flame ignited in the burner unit appears from inside of the cylinder. The lighter includes a fuel tank which can be either fixed or removable as for instance fuel gas cartridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Ulrich Faber
  • Patent number: 7150278
    Abstract: An improved barbeque grill having a plurality of gas-fueled cooking surfaces which can be stored in stacked relation, yet can be moved into essentially side-by-side relation for cooking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Inventor: Craig Hampton
  • Patent number: 7147461
    Abstract: A partially open fired heater regenerative cycle, wherein the fired industrial type heater cycle's heat transfer fluid replaces the air predominant nitrogen heat transfer fluid employed in a conventional air/fuel combustion heater, is disclosed. The heater cycle's method and apparatus are susceptible to providing a significant percent mass flow reduction of fugitive nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide mass flow emissions as emitted by current art Low-NO.sub.x art heaters on a rated per million Btu per hour basis, and is further capable of developing exceptionally high steady-state heat transfer system cycle thermal efficiencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Inventor: David Lloyd Neary
  • Patent number: RE39425
    Abstract: A burner assembly is provided for combining oxygen and fuel to produce a flame. The burner assembly includes a burner block formed to include a flame chamber having inlet and outlet openings, a bypass structure for conducting oxygen outside of the flame chamber to the outlet opening of the flame chamber and structure for discharging fuel into the flame chamber formed in the burner block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Maxon Corporation
    Inventor: Curtis L. Taylor