Patents Examined by Jason Lau
  • Patent number: 11231178
    Abstract: The presently disclosed embodiments include a burner assembly for a cooking appliance that features a pullout including a removable burn pot. The pullout allows a user to easily remove the burn pot to empty burned ash and clean any residual materials from the burn pot. The pullout features a keyway design to aid in retention and easy removal from a cooking appliance. The pullout couples to a fuel chamber that houses an auger for supplying a fuel source and an ignitor. The pullout includes a gasket that provides a sealing engagement between the pullout and the cooking appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Dansons US, LLC
    Inventor: Chris James
  • Patent number: 11226135
    Abstract: An apparatus and system for a combination space and water heater including a controller device and a method for control. The controller device is a self-contained system that can be added to, or in combination with, existing water heaters and hydronic air heating systems using standard plumbing connections, and provides a potable water system without any need of an intermediary heat exchanger. The controller device automatically monitors a heating capacity of the water heater and the hydronic heating coil over time, and correlates measured heating loads with one or more environmental temperatures, thermostats, user settings, and/or a supplemental heating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: GAS TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Paul Eric Glanville, Timothy A. Kingston, Michael Christian Mensinger, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11226097
    Abstract: Briefly, apparatus and methods for detecting and terminating production of undesirable gases, such as carbon monoxide (“CO”), at a potential source, such as a household appliance. The apparatus and methods may determine a threshold level of the gas. In one embodiment, the method and apparatus may determine whether to provide power to a power supply input of a controller of a potential gas producing device based on the detected level of gas, where providing power to the power supply input of the controller of the potential gas producing device enables the controller of the potential gas producing device to provide power to the potential gas producing device. In another embodiment, when gas concentrations about a potential source are above a maximum threshold, the system communicates with a fuel supply valve of the potential source to cause the valve thereof to interrupt the supply of fuel to the potential source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Inventor: Mark Kohn
  • Patent number: 11226105
    Abstract: A cooking appliance, in particular a baking oven, includes a cooking compartment for cooking food to be cooked, and a door for closing the cooking compartment in an operating position, with the door having a receptacle. Arranged in the door is a sensor module for identifying a property of the food to be cooked when the door assumes the operating position. The sensor module is receivable in the receptacle and reversibly removable from the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignees: BSH Home Appliances Corporation, BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Sebastian Erbe, Arnulf Himmel, Dan Neumayer
  • Patent number: 11213167
    Abstract: A barbecue grill includes a bowl, a platform, a bracket connected to the bowl, and a coupler connected to the platform and used to engage with the bracket in a detachable manner. A positioning rod is formed on the bracket, and a guiding slit is made in the coupler. The positioning rod is movable in the guiding slit. A restraining aperture is made in the bracket, and a latch is formed on the coupler and movable between an extended position and a withdrawn position. In the extended position, the latch can be inserted in the restraining aperture to engage the coupler with the bracket to keep the platform on the bowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: REVOACE INC. LIMITED
    Inventor: Shu-Jui Chang
  • Patent number: 11215354
    Abstract: Devices and apparatuses for enhancing fruits and vegetables are provided herein. In one embodiment a device includes a cover body having a decorative aperture and a tubular collar formed proximate an outer peripheral edge of the cover body, the tubular collar extending away from the cover body, the tubular collar having a terminal edge surface and a length that extends along a central axis of the cover body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Inventor: Joseph Zeno Descher
  • Patent number: 11213168
    Abstract: A device utilizes charcoal for cooking food, and is adapted for lighting the charcoal by placement on a conventional gas grill. The device includes a food-receiving plate/grill, a charcoal platform, and an ash platform/tray. The device is adapted so that, with the ash tray removed and the device resting on the gas grill, heat from the gas flames ignites the charcoal resting on the charcoal platform. Upon the ignition of the charcoal, the gas grill may be turned off, the ash tray may be inserted into the device underneath the charcoal platform to catch the charcoal ash, and the device may remain on the gas grill or be moved to another table/surface as the charcoal-only cooking proceeds. The charcoal platform may be stationary in one location, or movable to multiple locations, between the bottom extremity of the device and the food-receiving grill member(s) at the top of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Inventors: Andrew Martin George, Duane Clair Shattuck
  • Patent number: 11202531
    Abstract: A grill or BBQ appliance that is generally intended for outdoor use has a pivoting hood disposed in hinged connection with a grill body, both of which are raised above a firebox that receives a food support grate including a set of food support modules. A gas burner assembly including a set of modular trellis burners may be positioned along the lower end of the firebox. A set of radiant tray modules may be correspondingly positioned between food support modules and burners. Branches of burner trellises may be spaced apart in distances corresponding to locations of an array of tiles grasped by the radiant tile module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Hestan Commercial Corporation
    Inventors: Hans F. Wenzel, Chris Moy, Ray Nilssen
  • Patent number: 11187406
    Abstract: The invention relates to abed management cycle for a fluidized bed boiler, comprising the steps of: a) providing fresh ilmenite particles as bed material to the fluidized bed boiler; b) carrying out a fluidized bed combustion process; c) removing at least one ash stream comprising ilmenite particles from the fluidized bed boiler; d) separating ilmenite particles from the at least one ash stream; e) recirculating separated ilmenite particles into the bed of the fluidized bed boiler. The invention also relates to a corresponding arrangement for carrying out fluidized bed combustion, comprising a fluidized bed boiler comprising ilmenite particles as bed material; and a system for removing ash from the fluidized bed boiler; wherein the arrangement further comprises a separator for separating ilmenite particles from the re-moved ash; and means for recirculating separated ilmenite particles into the bed of the fluidized bed boiler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Improbed AB
    Inventors: Bengt-Ake Andersson, Pavleta Knutsson, Fredrik Lind, Henrik Thunman
  • Patent number: 11187407
    Abstract: To further reduce the NOx emission, the invention provides a mixing device (10) for a burner (16) having reduced NOx production, comprising a centrally arranged first mixing unit (18) for producing a first fuel-air mixture for a primary flame zone (120), wherein the first mixing unit (18) has at least one first fuel nozzle (38) and a baffle plate (40), a second mixing unit (20) for producing a second fuel-air mixture for a secondary flame zone (122), which encloses the primary flame zone (120), wherein the second mixing unit (20) has multiple second fuel nozzles (70), characterized by a sealing air producing unit (24) for producing a sealing air flow in a sealing air zone, which encloses the primary flame zone (120) of the first mixing unit (18) arranged downstream of the baffle plate (40), wherein the second mixing unit (20) is designed to deliver the second fuel-air mixture into the secondary flame zone (122), which encloses the sealing air zone (126), and wherein the second mixing unit (20) is arranged aro
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: MAX WEISHAUPT GMBH
    Inventors: Frank Braig, Hubert Gaub, Stefan Mack, Florian Wohnhas
  • Patent number: 11181276
    Abstract: A firepot for a grilling device comprises one or more walls at least partially forming an outer boundary of the firepot. The firepot is structurally configured to hold at least partially ignited solid fuel. The firepot also comprises a floor defining, at least in part, a lower end of the firepot. The floor comprises one or more holes extending through the floor. Additionally, a portion of the one or more walls form a solid fuel delivery opening that comprises a solid fuel portal through which solid fuel is deliverable to an interior of the firepot. A heating element mount is positioned to hold a heating element within the interior of the firepot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Traeger Pellet Grills LLC
    Inventors: Michael V. Colston, Daniel A. C. Altenritter, Daniel W. Sluder
  • Patent number: 11168883
    Abstract: A vented module includes a housing portion having a drainage side and a drainage port within the drainage side. The module further includes a flame arrestor including a first surface having a fluid inlet, a second surface having at least one fluid outlet, a labyrinth channel extending from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet, and at least one mesh screen disposed within the labyrinth channel. The flame arrestor is attached to the housing portion such that the drainage port is aligned with the fluid inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Rosemount Aerospace Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Benning, Aaron Wesser, Scott Wigen, Andrew Sherman
  • Patent number: 11162677
    Abstract: An air intake coupling has at least one noise suppression hole formed therein. A gas-air mixer elbow is fluidly coupled to the air intake coupling. A burner box assembly is fluidly coupled to the gas-air mixer elbow via a gas-air plenum box. A heat-exchange tube has a first end that is fluidly coupled to the burner box assembly. A fan is fluidly coupled to a second end of the heat-exchange tube via a cold-end header box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Leonor Beakley, Darcy Q. Easterling
  • Patent number: 11156400
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a honeycomb structure, includes: a step of manufacturing a honeycomb formed body to manufacture a non-fired honeycomb formed body, the non-fired honeycomb formed body including a raw material composition containing a ceramic raw material, 0.5 to 5.0 mass % of pore former and water; an induction drying step of drying the manufactured non-fired honeycomb formed body by induction drying to obtain a honeycomb dried body; and a firing step of firing the obtained honeycomb dried body to obtain a honeycomb structure. The induction drying step is to remove 20 to 80% of the entire water that the non-fired honeycomb formed body contained before drying by induction drying to obtain a first dried honeycomb formed body, then turn the first dried honeycomb formed body upside down and remove the residual water by further induction drying to obtain the honeycomb dried body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kensuke Okumura
  • Patent number: 11154820
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a continuous process for preparing permselective hollow fiber membranes being suitable e.g. for hemodialysis, hemodiafiltration and hemofiltration of blood which comprises a two-stage drying and tempering treatment of the hollow fiber membranes. According to a further aspect, the invention relates to a continuous process for drying permselective hollow fiber membranes on-line. The invention also relates to devices for on-line drying of permselective hollow fiber membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: GAMBRO LUNDIA AB
    Inventors: Ulrich Bauer, Reinhold Buck, Juergen Graf, Helmut Hildwein, Bernd Krause, Markus Storr, Arnd Wochner
  • Patent number: 11143415
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a rack includes a pair of spaced apart inverted U shaped brackets. Each bracket has a top portion coupled in-between a rear leg and a front leg and forming a gap in-between the rear leg and the front leg. The top portion, the rear leg, and front leg of each bracket are disposed in a first plane. The rack further includes one or more horizontal coupling members coupled in-between the pair of brackets. The horizontal coupling members and the front leg of each bracket are disposed in a second plane that is orthogonal to the first plane. The rack also includes one or more first horizontal supporting members coupled to and extending outward from a first bracket of the pair of brackets. The first horizontal supporting members are disposed in a third plane that is orthogonal to the first and second planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Hestan Commercial Corporation
    Inventors: Ray Nilssen, Chris Moy, Eric Deng, Richard Zirges
  • Patent number: 11137138
    Abstract: A heating system shut-off safety assembly includes a housing coupled to an electrical line for a heating unit. A processor is coupled to the housing and the electrical line to allow and restrict an electrical current in the electrical line. A first carbon monoxide sensor is coupled to the housing and the processor to detect carbon monoxide. A heat sensor is coupled to the housing and the processor to detect heat from the heating unit. A smoke sensor is coupled to the housing and the processor to detect smoke from the heating unit. A second carbon monoxide sensor is coupled to a warm air discharge and the processor to detect carbon monoxide in the warm air discharge. The processor restricts the current in the electrical line when the first carbon monoxide sensor, the second carbon monoxide sensor and smoke sensor detects carbon monoxide or smoke to disable the heating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Inventor: Paul Ventura
  • Patent number: 11137168
    Abstract: A combustion device includes: a gas proportional valve; a control portion; a driving circuit; and a monitoring circuit. The monitoring circuit includes: a voltage generating portion configured to generate monitoring voltages corresponding to a driving current; and a branch output portion configured to output the monitoring voltages to a plurality of terminals of the control portion. When a voltage difference between the monitoring voltages input to the plurality of terminals is a determination reference value or more, the control portion determines that there is a failure of the monitoring circuit. When the voltage difference between the monitoring voltages is less than the determination reference value, and at least one of the monitoring voltages does not fall within a predetermined normal range while the gas proportional valve is controlled to become a predetermined state, the control portion determines that there is the failure of the monitoring circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: NORITZ CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Mori, Tomoki Kishimoto
  • Patent number: 11131463
    Abstract: An oven comprising: a muffle defining a cooking chamber limited by a plurality of fixed walls and by a door selectively mobile between an open position and a closed position for allowing respectively the accessibility and the isolation of the cooking chamber; an internal water collection tank; a tubular loading device of water into the internal tank; wherein both with the door in the open position and with the door in the closed position the tubular loading device is selectively mobile between a static, not-working position and a loading position wherein it is at least in part orientable in the space outside the cooking chamber to reach a water source, wherein the oven comprises an outer frame covering the cooking chamber; in the not-working position the tubular loading device being substantially fully housed inside a cavity between the cooking chamber and the outer frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: SMEG S.p.A.
    Inventor: Nebojsa Mastilovic
  • Patent number: 11125445
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, in particular a camera apparatus and/or imaging apparatus for a cooker hood and a cooker hood. The camera apparatus includes a camera and/or the imaging apparatus includes an imaging device, an airflow generation apparatus, and an air channel, where an airflow generated by the airflow generation apparatus flows out of an outlet of the air channel. The outlet of the air channel is formed in a local area around the camera and/or imaging device. Disposing of the outlet of the air channel causes the airflow flowing out of the outlet of the air channel to form an air curtain in front of the camera and/or imaging device, thus preventing smoke from coming into contact with the camera and/or imaging device, protecting the camera and/or imaging device from pollution of smoke, and facilitating heat dissipation of the camera and/or imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Dongyu Chu, Peter Schlotmann, Lei Yang