Patents Examined by Gajanan M Prabhu
  • Patent number: 9353972
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method of collecting solar energy having a variable position for optimizing sunlight collection and for use in a heating and/or cooling system. The system includes a solar collector apparatus, a collector support frame assembly, a sun position tracking apparatus, a fluid transfer pump, a fluid storage tank, an insulated pipe for connecting the fluid pump to the storage tank and the solar collector, a differential temperature controller, and a safety override relay controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Inventors: R. Curtis Best, Lawrence J. Mudd, William E. Hucks, James H. Pinner, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9339144
    Abstract: An apparatus for boosting fire and collecting ash includes a cup, a grate and a gate. The cup includes an upper chamber, a lower chamber, and apertures in communication with the lower chamber. The grate includes at least one aperture. The grate is placed in the cup between the upper and lower chambers. The gate includes at least one aperture corresponding to the aperture of the grate. The gate is pivotally placed in the cup between a first position and a second position. The aperture of the gate is in communication with the aperture of the grate to communicate the upper chamber with the lower chamber as the gate is in the first position. The gate shuts the aperture of the grate to shut the upper chamber from the lower chamber as the gate is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Inventor: Kiosky Chung
  • Patent number: 9328928
    Abstract: A mobile fire pit holder is described with a base member having an outer wall with multiple segments and extending upward from an inwardly extending lower support shoulder at its periphery, a support framework extending across the space within the outer wall and supported at its respective ends by the inwardly extending shoulder, and a screen having perforations therein for drainage of water or other condensate that lies atop and is supported by the support framework. Fireproof material is placed within the space defined by the screen and the outer wall to provide a support for a fire pit. A set of wheels uniformly arrayed about the periphery of the holder below the lower support shoulder and attached at the respective ends of the support framework provides stability and rolling mobility to the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Inventor: Dean D. Wehr
  • Patent number: 9310099
    Abstract: A solar collector device is provided. The solar collector device includes an evacuated tube and a mini-channel tube mounted within the evacuated tube, the mini-channel tube comprising a first plurality of ports for inflow of a heat-transfer fluid and a second plurality of ports for outflow of the heat-transfer fluid to a heat exchange system. The mini-channel tube may have a hydraulic diameter in a range of approximately 3 millimeters to approximately 200 micrometers. The mini-channel tube may have a hydraulic diameter in a range of approximately 200 micrometers to approximately 10 micrometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Gerardo C. Diaz, Neeraj Sharma
  • Patent number: 9303899
    Abstract: A solar energy-powered heating and cooling system for buildings, including solar energy tiles attached to a roof or an outside surface of walls of a building, an energy collector used to concentrate energy collected by the solar energy tiles, an energy converter activating solar energy into another form of energy, supply pipes hidden inside cavity floor and/or hollow walls and containing a flow medium, and an intelligent control unit. The solar energy collected by the solar energy tiles is brought to the energy collector and then converted via the energy converter. The energy is instilled into the flow medium that is subsequently transferred to the cavity floor and/or hollow walls via the supply pipes so as to either heat up or cool down the building. The process is controlled by the intelligent control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Inventor: Liming Fu
  • Patent number: 9291353
    Abstract: A household oven (1) comprising an outer boxlike casing (2) which is internally provided with a inner cooking cavity (2a) for housing the food products to be cooked and that communicates with the outside via an access opening realized on the front face (2b) of the casing, a front door (3) which is hinged to the front face (2b) of the casing to rotate to and from a closing position in which the front door (3) rests against the front face (2b) of the casing to close the access opening realized therein, and an internal heating assembly (4) which is structured for heating and/or maintaining the inside of the inner cooking cavity (2a) at a given cooking temperature; the household oven (1) also comprising a push-push handle (11) which is completely recessed into a seat (Ha) realized in the outer face (3a) of the front door (3), and is structured for alternatively assuming a stable withdrawn position in which the push-push handle (11) remains motionless completely housed into the front door (3) and forms part of the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS CORPORATION N.V.
    Inventors: Marco Saporetti, Cris Tridello
  • Patent number: 9271522
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cooking oven (1), having a cavity (2) which is closable by a door (3). To reduce bacteria growth the invention is characterized in that oxygenating gas or ozone generating means (4) are provided for supplying at least a part of the cavity (2) or a region (5) adjacent to the cavity (2) with oxygenating gas or ozone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS CORPORATION N.V.
    Inventors: Fabienne Reinhard-Herrscher, Thomas Fich Pedersen, Kersten Kaiser
  • Patent number: 9267207
    Abstract: A central tube for linear concentrating solar thermal power plants, has an absorber layer. The absorber layer is generated by cold gas sputtering, wherein suitable method parameters can in particular generate an increased surface roughness by means of pores in the surface region of the absorber layer. An absorber layer can thus be advantageously produced, having a quadratic roughness of no more than 1 ?m, measured in a close range of no more than 50 ?m diameter, and preferably being made of a corrosion-proof hard alloy comprising tungsten carbide, in particular WC—CoCr, WC—Co, WC—FeCo, WC—FeC, WC—FeNi, WC—Ni or WC—NiCr.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Ursus Krüger, Daniel Reznik, Oliver Stier
  • Patent number: 9249992
    Abstract: Process for manufacturing a support structure and a solar receiver includes the following steps: a) providing a sheet of rigid material having a rectangular shape with a first median axis and a second median axis; b) performing two grooves running from one sheet side to the opposite side, defining two parabolic curves, the parabolic curves having the same axes of symmetry, parallel to the second median axis, the grooves dividing the sheet in a central surface, a first and a second lateral surfaces; c) bending the first lateral surface out of plane with respect to the central surface through an angle ?1 along the first groove; bending the second lateral surface out of plane with respect to the central surface through an angle ?2 along the second groove; the central surface, first and second lateral surfaces being curved and the central surface having a profile defining a third parabolic curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: NOVATON ERNEUERBARE ENERGIEN AG
    Inventors: Urs Elsasser, Thierry Meresse
  • Patent number: 9242221
    Abstract: A plant for chemical or physical treatment of granular solids includes a fluidized-bed reactor, a solids supply conduit and a central gas supply tube. A cooling tube is disposed relative to the gas supply tube so as to form an annular cooling duct, which is configured to cool the gas supply tube and the process gas and is connected with a coolant source configured to supply a coolant with a temperature of below about 400° C. Outlet openings are disposed in the cooling tube. The fluidized-bed reactor is a Venturi reactor in which the cooling tube opens into a flared portion with the outlet openings connecting the annular cooling duct with the reactor interior. The cooling tube adjoins the gas supply tube and extends substantially parallel to the flared portion of the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Michael Missalla, Edgar Gasafi, Jean Claude Hein, Andreas Orth, Jean-Paul Nepper
  • Patent number: 9243843
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a drying or heating apparatus that is capable of independently controlling the temperature of the product being heated (e.g., to achieve a desired temperature profile) and the wavelength of the radiation (e.g., to maximize the heat transfer rate). To such ends, a drying apparatus can be provided with one or more heat sources that are movable relative to the product being heated in order to increase or decrease the gap or spacing between the heat source and the product. By adjusting the gap between the product and the heat source, it is possible to control the source temperature in such a manner that produces the desired product temperature and wavelength of radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Columbia PhytoTechnology, LLC
    Inventor: Mark Savarese
  • Patent number: 9237789
    Abstract: A hair dryer system includes a hair dryer connectable to a power source and having a power connection, an attachment that is connectable to the power connection and is supplied power from the power source by the power connection. When the hair dryer is connected to the attachment by the power connection, the hair dryer and attachment consume a predetermined amount of power. When the hair dryer is disconnected from the attachment, the hair dryer consumes less power than the predetermined amount of power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Inventor: Barry V Prehodka
  • Patent number: 9220276
    Abstract: An improved spiral oven and method for its use includes the step of using a forward/reversing fan to produce a first airflow and a second inverted airflow in the cooking chamber. The proportion of time each airflow occurs may be unbalanced within an oven residence time or cook cycle, and either airflow may begin the cycle. The first airflow creates a flow across the cook belt predominantly at the top and bottom tiers, whereas the second airflow creates this flow predominantly in the middle tiers. A braking resistor allows the fan to quickly changeover between full-forward and full-reverse directions. Because of the reversing airflow pattern, the product cooks more evenly across the cook belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Unitherm Food Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: David Howard
  • Patent number: 9212451
    Abstract: An electrical resistance heater assembly includes a heater housing forming a channel having a longitudinal axis for a fluid such as air to pass through and a heater support plate forming first and second levels in the heater housing. A first mica board assembly supporting a ribbon heater is mounted to the heater support plate at the first level and a second mica board assembly supporting a ribbon heater is mounted to the heater support plate at the second level. The first level is positioned adjacent an inlet of the heater housing and the second level is positioned adjacent an outlet of the heater housing. The first level and a side of the heater housing form a passageway for air to enter the heater housing and be directed to the ribbons of the second level, thereby allowing air to bypass the heater ribbons of the first level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: TUTCO, INC.
    Inventor: James Lee Sherrill
  • Patent number: 9212828
    Abstract: An Epicatalytic Thermal Diode (ETD) includes one or more ETD cells. Each cell comprises first and second surfaces with a cavity between them, which contains a gas that is epicatalytically active with respect to the pair of surfaces. The surfaces chemically interact with the gas such that the gas dissociates at a faster rate proximate to the first surface than it does proximate to the second surface. Thus, a steady-state temperature differential between the first surface and the second surface is created and maintained. In various applications, multiple ETD cells are connected in series and/or parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Paradigm Energy Research Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel P. Sheehan
  • Patent number: 9206985
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed regarding a gas range and an integrated cooktop assembly. The integrated cooktop assembly may be formed as a single, continuous surface. Some embodiments of the cooktop assembly may include a bowl portion, a burner portion, a grate portion, and a cooktop portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: SEARS BRAND, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Michael Saubert
  • Patent number: 9206979
    Abstract: An oxy-fuel burner arrangement having a first conduit having a nozzle aperture with an aspect ratio, D1/D2, of greater than or equal to about 2.0. The first conduit is arranged and disposed to provide a first fluid stream, where the first fluid stream is a combustible fuel. The burner arrangement further includes at least one second conduit arranged and disposed to provide a second gas stream circumferentially around the first fluid stream, where the second gas stream includes oxygen. A precombustor is arranged and disposed to receive the first fluid stream and second gas stream where an oxy-fuel flame is produced. The geometry of the nozzle aperture and the cross-sectional geometry of the first conduit are dissimilar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Cole, Leighta Maureen Johnson, Louis Walter Monroig, Aleksandar Georgi Slavejkov
  • Patent number: 9206980
    Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of systems and methods for oxidizing gases. In some embodiments, a reaction chamber is configured to receive a fuel gas and maintain the gas at a temperature within the reaction chamber that is above an autoignition temperature of the gas. The reaction chamber may also be configured to maintain a reaction temperature within the reaction chamber below a flameout temperature. In some embodiments, heat and product gases from the oxidation process can be used, for example, to drive a turbine, reciprocating engine, and injected back into the reaction chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Ener-Core Power, Inc.
    Inventor: Boris A. Maslov
  • Patent number: 9194579
    Abstract: A radiant wall burner apparatus. The apparatus includes an inlet and primary fuel tip for introduction of fuel gas and air mixing in a mixing chamber. The fuel and air mixture are subject to a substantially uniform flow area from the point of discharge from a downstream portion of the mixing chamber up to the exit gap of the burner tip. The fuel gas and combustion air mixture terminate through the burner tip at a substantially uniform velocity. The radiant wall burner apparatus and burner tip allow for the substantially uniform velocity of the fuel gas and air mixture, reducing the potential for flashback of the burner tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Richard Ray Martin, Matthew Martin
  • Patent number: 9188362
    Abstract: According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of direct fired heaters including premix burner technology and/or feed forward control loop modulation via inlet air temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: CAMBRIDGE ENGINEERING INC.
    Inventors: Gary J. Potter, Sr., John P. Foley, Jr., Thomas J. Cleary, Marc D. Braun, Carl Schoenberg, John H. Kramer, Jr.